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THE  ADVENTURES  OF 
JOHANN  CARL  BUETTNER 


Heartman's  Historical  Series  No.  1 


NARRATIVE 
OF 


Johann  Carl  Buettner 


IN  THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION 


Three  hundred  and  twenty  Copies  printed  for 
CHAS.  FRED.  HEARTMAN.  New  York  City 


Copyright  Secured. 


The  following  Narrative*  is  a  translation  from  the 
German.  The  original  German  edition  is  a  very 
scarce  Book.  The  translation  is  abridged  in  so  far  as 
the  greater  part  of  his  adventures  in  other  countries 
is  left  out,  being  of  little  interest  for  the  American 
reader.  The  part  produced  here  is  an  interesting 
medley  of  serious  incidents  and  accidental  exploits,  and 
strews  side  lights  on  the  American  revolution  not  to 
be  undervalued. 

The  German  literature  is  still  full  of  unpublished 
interesting  material  relating  to  important  events  of 
American  History.  If  this  little  attempt  finds  sup 
port,  other  books  may  follow. 


*Buettner,  der  Amerikaner.  Eine  Selbstbiographie  Johann 
Carl  Buettner's,  ehemaligen  nordamerikanischen  Kriegers.  XIX, 
137  pp.  Camenz  1828. 


ft-l 


Number of  320  Copies  printed. 


The  place  where  I,  Johann  Carl  Buettner,  the  Ameri 
can,*  first  saw  the  light  in  the  year  1754,  is  Lauta,  a  vil 
lage  situated  in  the  district  of  the  royal  province  of 
Senftenberg.  My  father,  Johann  Ehregott  Buettner,  a 
regularly  ordained  minister,  preached  there  the  best  of 
all  religions.  My  mother's  name  was  Johanne  Chris- 
tiane,  and  she  was  the  daughter  of  a  clergyman  named 
Pittius  of  Nussdorf,  near  Forste,  situated  in  Nieder- 
laussitz.  I  was  the  third  child  of  my  parents,  who  were 
blest  with  eleven  children,  four  of  whom  are  alive  at 
present.  Nature  endowed  all  my  brothers  and  sisters 
with  a  lively  temperament,  and  in  this  respect  was  not 
less  generous  to  me.  Love  of  excitement  and  adventure, 
that  I  have  not  lost  even  in  my  seventieth  year,  became 
noticeable  in  my  earliest  youth.  By  the  time  I  had  the 
full  use  of  my  legs,  there  was  no  piece  of  daring  that  I 
would  refuse.  The  higher  the  tree,  the  happier  I  was  to 
climb  to  the  top.  Naturally  on  account  of  this,  I  some 
times  suffered  mischance.  Thus  it  happened  that  in 
my  fifth  year  I  climbed  a  tree  in  the  garden  of  the  Rec 
tory  at  Lauta,  and  had  reached  the  very  top,  when  the 
limb  to  which  I  was  holding  suddenly  broke.  I  fell  to 
the  ground,  and  lay  there  like  one  dead.  Summoned 
from  the  house  by  the  terrified  cries  of  my  playmates, 
my  mother  rushed  to  my  side.  But  instead  of  sym 
pathizing  with  me,  she  restored  me  to  consciousness 
with  several  smart  cuffs  on  the  ear. 


"That  I  added  to  my  family  name  the  title  "American"  might 
strike  many  as  uncalled  for  and  arrogant;  but  I  did  this  not  with 
out  sufficient  reason.  Although  I  no  longer  live  in  America,  I 
spent,  however,  my  best  years  in  that  part  of  the  world,  fought  in 
the  significant,  decisive  North  American  struggle  for  independence, 
and  moistened  with  my  blood  the  soil  of  the  great  North  American 
republic. 


.{-.  .{'did  not  quarrel  with  the  fate  that  very  early  in  my 
life  gave  me  opportunities  to  exercise  and  develop  my 
bodily  powers.  Had  I  been  coddled  by  my  parents  as 
many  children  are,  the  burden  of  physical  trials  and 
tribulations  that  the  future  had  in  store  for  me  would 
have  been  harder  to  endure.  Therefore  I  counsel 
parents  in  the  higher  walks  of  life  to  take  thought  not 
only  of  the  training  of  the  spiritual  powers  of  their 
children,  but  also  to  concern  themselves  with  the  de 
velopment  of  their  physical  fitness.  The  exercise  and 
development  of  the  bodily  powers  are  indeed  requisite 
to  the  complete  education  of  men  and  women,  for 
parents  can  never  tell  into  what  circumstances  their 
children  may  sometime  be  placed,  where  perhaps  just 
the  lack  of  early  training  of  their  physical  powers  having 
left  them  timid  and  lacking  in  courage,  might  render 
them  incapable  of  doing  that  which  they  are  required 
to  do.  Doubtless  in  after  years  I  would  have  borne 
less  easily  my  lot  as  apprentice  to  a  surgeon  and  as  vol 
unteer  in  America,  had  I  been  weakened  physically  by 
indulgence.  Accordingly,  the  development  and 

strengthening  of  my  body  was  provided  for;  or  rather, 
I  saw  to  that  myself;  and  very  little  did  any  one  concern 
oneself  with  my  spiritual  education,  for  that  matter. 
My  father  was  otherwise  engaged  with  his  ministerial 
offices,  or  with  his  farming,  or  with  the  instruction  of  my 
older  brothers.  The  incumbent  schoolmaster  to  whose 
mercies  I  was  intrusted  was  little  fitted  to  handle  so 
wild  a  boy  as  I.  My  father  and  my  mother  came  to 
realize  this,  and  finally  the  latter  took  some  pains  to 
arouse  in  me  an  interest  in  the  doctrines  of  religion  (for 
which  I  am  now  not  unthankful) ;  they  also  sent  me  to 
Senftenberg,  to  the  school  at  that  time  taught  by 
Kretschmar,  the  rector  who  has  since  become  widely 
known  because  of  his  tragic  end.  This  man  was  indeed 

2. 


an  excellent  schoolmaster,  but  was  suffering  even  at 
that  time  from  hypochondria. 

In  the  school  at  Senftenberg  I  laid  the  foundations 
for  a  knowledge  of  the  teachings  of  Christianity,  of  the 
Latin  language,  and  of  other  useful  branches  of  learning, 
and  was  thus  prepared  for  one  of  the  higher  institutions 
of  learning.  Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  it  is  un 
pleasant  to  remember  that  I  caused  my  teachers  at 
Senftenberg  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  more  on  account  of 
my  lively  disposition  than  because  I  was  impelled  by 
any  bad  intentions,  yet  I  like  to  think  often  of  my  so 
journ  in  this  town.  Much  of  this  pleasure  is  caused  by 
recalling  the  intellectual  enjoyments  that  appeal  to  a 
boy,  and  that  I  experienced  here.  Gladly  do  I  re 
member  the  times  when  I  chartered  a  canoe,  in  company 
with  playmates  no  less  lively  than  myself,  to  explore  the 
Elster  River  and  to  land  with  them  near  a  place  where 
stood  the  old  castle  which  was  demolished  by  the 
Hussites  in  the  year  1431,  and  of  which  a  few  ruins  are 
still  to  be  seen.  Here  it  was  that  in  the  Middle  Ages, 
predatory  and  belligerent  knights  fell  upon  itinerant 
merchants.  And  here  at  the  approach  of  danger  those 
robbers  fled  to  their  Sumpfenberg  through  stone-walled 
secret  passages,  known  only  to  themselves,  deep  under 
the  Elster  River.  And  here  it  was  that  we,  spirited 
young  knights,  also  usually  started  our  rambles.  Not 
for  profit-seeking  merchants  were  we  on  the  search ;  but 
for  wild  geese,  innocent  ducks,  and  other  water-loving 
birds  whose  eggs  we  wanted  to  find. 

I  visited  each  year  the  vineyards  on  the  hills  that 
surrounded  Senftenberg  like  an  amphitheatre;  not  only 
to  enjoy  the  wonderful  view  that  revealed  to  us  far-away 
Bautzen  and  Dresden,  but  also  on  account  of  the  cher 
ries,  the  grapes,  and  all  the  other  fruit  of  the  fall.  I  was 
especially  delighted  with  the  joyous  activity  in  the 

3 


vineyards  in  the  wine  season,  and  with  the  feasts  and 
the  festivals  that  were  constantly  being  celebrated.  I 
paid  very  little  attention  at  that  time  to  the  earthworks 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  vineyard ;  these  doubtless  had  been 
thrown  up  by  Slaves  and  Wends  when  they  tried  to 
resist  their  German  victors  in  the  woods  and  marshy 
places  near  Senftenberg.  After  I  had  prepared  myself 
in  Senftenberg  for  a  higher  school,  I  followed  the  advice 
of  my  parents  and  matriculated  at  the  lyceum  at 
Camenz,  where  in  those  days  taught  Vogt,  Praetorius, 
Schultze  and  others  whose  memories  will  always  be  dear 
to  me.  My  father  had  a  few  friends  in  Camenz  who 
very  soon  proved  useful  to  me  in  many  ways.  After  a 
short  time,  I  ate  my  noonday  meal  with  hospitable 
families;  such  families  were  never  scarce  in  Camenz. 
The  archdeacon  Julich,  a  university  friend  of  my  father, 
•gave  me  shelter  in  this  friendly  Camenz.  Naturally  all 
the  teachers,  and  also  my  reverend  host,  influenced  me 
in  no  small  degree.  This  last  named  patron  was  a  kind- 
hearted,  humor-loving  man  whose  pleasure  it  was  to 
entertain  the  son  of  his  old  friend  in  the  most  interesting 
manner,  especially  during  the  long  winter  evenings. 
He  not  only  related  to  me  tales  of  the  natural  curiosities 
of  our  own  country,  but  he  also  drew  my  attention  to 
the  features  of  other  parts  of  the  world.  Especially  he 
talked  about  the  beauties  of  the  East  Indies,  and  of  the 
silver  and  gold  mines  of  America,  and  not  infrequently 
gave  me  to  read  descriptions  of  travel  written  by  men 
who  had  seen  these  parts  of  the  world  and  in  many  cases 
had  grown  very  rich  there.  The  good  man  did  not 
suspect  in  those  days  how  these  stories  of  his,  and  the 
interesting  contents  of  the  books  he  had  given  me,  would 
influence  my  future  life.  But  it  was  at  precisely  that 
time  that  I  began  to  consider  seriously  the  possibility  of 
visiting  those  celebrated  regions  of  the  world,  after  I 

4 


had  completed  my  studies;  and  with  these  thoughts  I 
combined  the  hope  that  perhaps  I  too  might  succeed  in 
returning  from  the  East  Indian  and  American  paradises 
a  rich  man.  How  I  was  deceived  in  my  hopes!  Partly 
because  I  was  urged  and  partly  because  of  my  own  in 
clinations,  I  entered  the  school-choir  at  Camenz.  This 
choir  had  to  sing  not  only  in  front  of  the  houses  of  the 
citizens  in  the  city  but  in  the  suburbs  as  well.  On  an 
occasion  of  this  sort,  one  very  hard  winter,  I  had  the 
misfortune  to  freeze  my  feet.  It  became  necessary  for 
me  to  seek  the  advice  of  a  surgeon.  During  one  of  the 
visits  of  the  surgeon's  assistant,  a  young  physician,  it 
was  mentioned  that  surgery  is  the  one  profession  that 
could  take  one  through  the  world,  because  it  is  necessary 
everywhere.  This  remark  drove  me  to  the  decision  to 
adopt  this  profession  myself.  My  mother  gave  her 
consent  immediately,  because  as  she  said,  it  was  pretty 
hard  on  my  father  to  give  me  an  opportunity  to  study, 
since  my  brothers  had  studied  away  all  his  money;  my 
father  objected  at  first,  saying  he  would  have  liked  to 
see  me  study  theology  also;  but  after  a  while  he  com 
plied  with  my  wish  and  gave  his  consent.  I  became  the 
apprentice  of  Kirsten,  the  surgeon  at  Camenz;  and  I 
laid  many  a  plan  to  go  out,  after  my  apprenticeship  was 
finished,  into  the  wide  world,  perhaps  to  America;  or  to 
the  far-away  beautiful  East  Indies.  And  now  I  learned 
not  only  how  to  trim  beards  and  the  other  accomplish 
ments  of  surgical  skill,  but  was  obliged  also,  as  an  ap 
prentice,  to  polish  the  shoes  of  my  master,  and  to  attend 
to  other  domestic  duties.  In  those  days  I  did  not  have 
the  slightest  suspicion  that  in  time  to  come,  on  the  other 
side  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  I  should  have  to  perform 
more  menial  and  much  more  difficult  tasks  with  my 
hands.  But  meantime  I  was  contented  with  the  lot  I 
had  chosen  for  myself;  I  was  obedient  and  did  all  that 

5 


my  master  and  his  wife  expected  me  to  do;  and  alto 
gether,  I  did  not  have  a  very  bad  time  of  it  during  my 
apprenticeship.  During  this  period  nothing  happened 
to  cause  a  memorable  change  in  my  life.  On  the 
twenty-first  of  February,  during  the  last  year  of  my 
apprenticeship,  I  witnessed  the  grewsome  execution  of 
a  man  who  had  murdered  his  mother,  his  father  and  his 
brother,  in  the  village  of  Goeda,  two  miles  outside  of 
Camenz.  This  three-fold  murderer,  named  Jacob 
Ritter  was  twenty-four  years  of  age.  He  had  murdered 
his  father  and  his  mother  out  of  disgust  that  they  had 
lived  so  long  and  had  disappointed  him  in  his  inheri 
tance;  afterwards  killing  his  brother  for  fear  he  might 
make  known  to  the  world  his  devilish  deed.  But  he 
received  his  much-deserved  punishment.  He  was 
dragged  on  a  cow-hide  to  the  place  of  execution;  after 
being  pinched  with  red-hot  tweezers,  he  was  broken  on 
the  wheel. 

After  I  had  completed  my  apprenticeship,  I  returned 
to  the  home  of  my  parents.  Had  I  followed  the  wishes 
of  my  father,  I  would  have  gone  to  Dresden,  to  complete 
my  studies  in  that  city's  anatomical  institution,  under 
the  supervision  of  another  of  his  university  friends, 
D.  Demiani.  If  only  I  had  taken  the  advice  of  my  ex 
cellent  father,  I  doubtless  would  have  had  a  more  for 
tunate  career.  But  I  had  no  inclination  whatever  to  go 
to  Dresden,  and  I  longed  for  the  wide  world.  Finally 
my  father  consented;  and  after  I  had  said  good-bye  to 
all  my  relations  I  left  the  place  of  my  birth,  with  the 
firm  decision  not  to  return  until  Dame  Fortune  had  put 
me  in  a  position  to  come  back  in  a  coach  and  four.  How 
vainly  did  I  wait  on  her  favor !  Perhaps  she  considered 
me  unworthy  of  her  gifts. 

The  start  of  my  years  of  pilgrimage  was  quite  pleasant. 
My  father  gave  me  enough  money  to  take  a  stage  to 


Dresden,  and  my  two  older  brothers  accompanied  me 
thus  far.  I  had  plenty  of  money,  since  my  grandfather, 
whom  shortly  before  my  departure  I  had  shaved  lor  the 
first  time,  had  given  me  a  ducat.  Moreover  my  father 
handed  me,  just  as  I  was  leaving,  the  entire  contents  of 
my  savings  bank.  A  merry  trio  of  brothers,  we  reached 
the  hotel  in  Dresden  called  Kammerdieners  and  took  a 
room,  deciding  to  spend  a  few  days  there,  in  order  to 
have  a  good  time.  And  we  carried  out  our  intentions. 
All  day  long  we  bowled;  and  we  played  cards  all  night. 
But  since  all  good  things  finally  pass,  this  merry  life  had 
to  come  to  an  end.  After  a  few  days,  my  fortune  had 
been  squandered  and  my  brothers  had  to  return  home. 
With  empty  pockets  and  a  heavy  heart,  I  bade  fare 
well  to  my  kinsmen,  and  went  towards  Prague.  During 
this  journey  I  had  plenty  of  time  to  reflect  on  my  recent 
foolish  and  profligate  carryings-on,  and  especially  to 
realize  the  harmfulness  of  immoderate  card-playing. 

I  had  the  good  fortune  to  find  shelter  in  Prague.  I 
liked  very  much  this  curious  capital  of  Bohemia,  where 
more  than  four  centuries  ago  Johann  Huss  kindled  anew 
the  light  of  Christian  truth.  But  as  the  people  here 
tried  to  persuade  me  to  embrace  the  Catholic  faith,  I 
took  my  departure;  and  still  indignant  over  their  at 
tempts  to  proselyte  me,  I  wandered  towards  Vienna. 
Here  I  arrived  one  evening  and  took  lodgings  in  an  inn 
called  Posthoernchen  in  Leopold  City,  a  section  of 
Vienna.  Worn  out,  I  threw  upon  a  bench  my  gripsack, 
through  the  straps  of  which  I  had  thrust  my  sword, 
ordered  a  half  bottle  of  wine,  and  sat  down  to  await  my 
supper.  Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  during  my 
journey  from  Prague  to  Vienna  I  had  been  disgusted 
with  myself  over  my  card-playing,  I  could  not  resist  the 
temptation  of  watching  the  game  of  two  journeymen 
apprentices.  While  I  was  looking  on,  a  petty  officer 

7 


and  six  men  came  hurriedly  into  the  room  and  accosted 
the  persons  at  the  table  with:  "Well,  Well!  And  this  is 
where  we  find  you ! "  The  soldiers  quickly  arrested  one 
after  the  other  of  us  three.  Without  listening  to  the 
explanation  that  I  had  only  an  hour  ago  arrived  from 
Prague,  and  did  not  even  know  the  other  two  fellows, 
they  searched  my  pockets,  confiscated  my  portfolio,  my 
diploma,  and  my  razor,  and  escorted  me  over  the  bridge 
of  the  Danube  inside  the  city  of  Vienna.  Here  in  a 
little  house  which  was  situated  near  an  insignificant 
marketplace,  I  was  asked  the  following  questions: 
Where  had  I  come  from,  what  was  my  business,  who 
were  my  parents,  how  many  brothers  and  sisters  had  I, 
and  what  were  their  first  names.  After  this  examina 
tion,  still  one  more  question  was  put  to  me,  and  that  was 
if  I  were  one  of  " those  that  eat  meat."  And  then  the 
soldiers  took  me  to  the  so-called  Rumor  House  high  up 
on  the  fourth  floor.  I  was  horrified  to  find  that  some  of 
those  who  were  detained  there,  were  in  chains.  I  there 
upon  sat  down  on  a  bench,  and  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  I  knew  I  was  innocent  of  misdeed,  fell  to  weep 
ing.  "  Oh,  do  not  cry, "  the  others  called  out,  trying  to 
comfort  me.  "Neither  are  we  thieves  nor  murderers, 
but  honest  men.  We  are  farmers  whom  they  brought 
to  this  place  because  we  refused  the  increased  vassalage 
that  was  demanded  of  us.  But  everything  will  come 
out  right  in  the  end. "  Quietness  and  even  a  degree  of 
cheerfulness  were  restored  to  me  by  these  consolations. 
And  later  on,  it  occurred  to  me  that  this  undeserved 
punishment  in  Vienna  was  justly  meted  out  to  me  by 
God's  providence  for  my  passion  for  card-playing,  and 
to  prevent  me  even  from  looking  at  others  playing  cards. 
With  these  thoughts  I  fell  asleep.  In  the  morning  I 
received  one  cent's  worth  of  bread;  at  noon  a  little  bowl 
of  fish  soup  which  had  been  collected  in  the  monasteries 


and  in  the  evening  again  a  little  soup.  Every  day  came 
a  petty  officer  to  ascertain  the  state  of  our  health.  After 
enduring  these  conditions  eleven  days,  I  was  finally  led 
by  a  Rumor  soldier  down  two  flights  of  stairs  for  an 
examination.  Here  in  a  room  sat  a  man  clothed  all  in 
black.  He  put  to  me  again  the  questions  that  I  had 
answered  at  the  time  of  my  arrest.  I  explained  to  him 
how  everything  happened,  and  drew  his  attention  to  the 
fact  that  if  he  would  only  consider  what  I  had  told  him 
about  my  part  in  the  affair,  my  innocence  must  be  es 
tablished.  The  gentleman  in  the  black  clothes  there 
upon  gave  me  three  shillings,  and  dismissed  me  with  the 
consoling  assurance  that  I  would  be  set  free  very  soon. 
But  eight  days  passed  before  a  petty  officer  appeared 
who  ordered  me  to  follow  him.  He  led  me  down  one 
flight  of  stairs,  where  I  was  given  back  my  portfolio,  my 
razor,  and  all  my  belongings,  and  was  ordered  to  limit 
my  stay  in  Vienna  to  five  days ;  also  not  to  go  aroimd  to 
the  members  of  my  profession  with  requests  for  money. 
I  was  told  to  report  to  the  commander  of  the  city  each 
evening,  and  to  make  a  request  for  a  pass  that  would 
enable  me  to  remain  in  the  city  the  following  day. 

Glad  to  have  regained  my  freedom,  I  went  down  to 
the  Leopold  City  to  get  my  gripsack  from  the  Post- 
hoernchen  Inn.  All  my  inquiries  seemed  to  be  in  vain. 
Every  one  professed  not  to  know  me,  and  no  one  seemed 
to  have  seen  the  gripsack  I  had  left  behind.  Finally  the 
waiter  remembered  that  he  had  found  a  gripsack 
several  weeks  ago,  early  in  the  morning,  on  one  of  the 
benches  in  the  dining  room,  and  that  he  had  taken 
charge  of  it.  He  brought  it,  and  after  I  had  shown  him 
the  key  to  convince  him  that  it  really  belonged  to  me,  he 
handed  it  over,  but  without  the  sword,  which  had  gone 
astray.  Now  he  demanded  a  gratuity.  I  would  have 
been  happy  to  satisfy  him,  but  this  was  impossible 

9 


because  I  did  not  have  a  cent  in  my  pocket.  This 
happened  on  a  Saturday,  and  as  the  waiter  surmised  I 
might  be  a  Protestant,  he  advised  me  to  attend  on 
Sunday  forenoon  the  services  in  the  chapel  of  the  Dan 
ish  embassador,  but  first  to  state  my  condition  to  the 
pastor  and  announce  my  intention  to  quit  the  city.  The 
waiter  said  this  Protestant  minister  would  provide  me 
my  traveling  expenses.  I  followed  his  advice,  and  re 
ceived  from  the  pastor  two  dollars,  enough  to  pay  my 
passage  to  Hermansstadtim  Siebenbuergen.  After  I  had 
received  in  addition  to  this  a  viaticum  of  sixteen  groschen 
from  the  master  of  the  guild  of  surgeons,  I  started  the 
next  day  on  my  journey  from  Vienna  to  Pressburg.  This 
fortified  place  is  situated  at  the  mouth  of  the  Waag 
where  she  pours  her  waters  into  the  Danube,  and  is  in 
habited  by  Hungarians,  Slavs  and  Germans.  Mention 
ing  this  village,  I  cannot  refrain  from  pointing  out  a 
theory  of  mine  regarding  the  name  of  my  present  resi 
dence,  Senftenberg.  Senftenberg  means  in  the  Wendish 
language  Kommorow,  a  name  which  is  similar  to 
Kommorn .  But  not  only  the  names  but  the  topographi 
cal  situation  of  these  two  cities  are  very  similar.  Both 
are  situated  on  a  level,  marshy  plain,  crossed  often  by 
rivers.  Kommorn  is  still  a  fortified  place  and  Senften 
berg  used  to  be  one,  although  on  a  much  smaller  scale. 
All  this  would  not  be  sufficient  evidence  to  cause  me  to 
think — which  I  do — that  Senftenberg  received  its  first 
and  original  name  from  Kommorn,  if  history  did  not 
confirm  my  belief.  History  states  that  the  slaves  of 
which  the  serfs  are  a  part  started  their  operations  in  this 
place  against  the  Greek  Empire.  That  was  in  the  sixth 
century,  at  the  time  that  the  Avars  under  Chan  Bajan 
forced  the  servs  to  leave  their  homes  in  the  Kommorn, 
Slavonia,  Croatia,  Bosnia  and  Servia.  They  wandered 
through  Jschechia  or  Bohemia  towards  Meissen  and 

10 


into  the  Lausitz,  bringing  with  them  not  only  the  cul 
ture  which  they  had  acquired  during  their  wars  with  the 
Greeks,  but  also  gave  to  the  cities  and  villages  that  they 
founded,  the  names  of  those  which  they  had  inhabited 
near  the  Danube.  In  our  times  the  British,  Spaniards 
and  Germans  who  emigrated  to  America  did  the  same. 
They  called  the  places  which  they  founded  in  the  new 
world  by  the  names  of  the  cities  and  towns  where  they 
were  born,  or  that  were  similar  in  respect  to  topography. 
From  Kommorn  I  wandered  towards  Ofen,  the  old 
capital  of  the  kingdom  of  Hungary.  After  I  had  looked 
at  everything  worth  seeing  in  Ofen  and  had  wandered 
over  the  plains  of  Rakosch  near  the  city  of  Pesth  oppo 
site  Ofen,  I  took  passage  on  a  vessel  bound  for  the  for 
tress  Peterwardein.  Very  interesting  was  the  voyage 
down  the  Danube  from  Ofen  to  Peterwardein.  From 
here  I  started  toward  Carlowitz,  two  hours  away,  which 
is  a  very  well-built  place  and  gives  a  beautiful  view  of 
Peterwardein.  At  this  place  I  accepted  a  position  as 
assistant  to  a  Slavonic  surgeon  and  barber.  But  I  did 
not  enjoy  my  duties,  because  in  this  part  of  the  world 
the  business  of  a  barber  is  quite  different  from  what  it  is 
in  our  northern  countries.  I  had  to  travel  with  my 
master  from  one  market  to  the  other.  He  always  oc 
cupied  a  stand  of  his  own.  We  set  up  a  big  kettle  of  hot 
water  and  on  request  from  each  man,  shaved  his  beard, 
washed  his  head,  cleaned  his  ears  and  anointed  his  chin 
whiskers  until  they  shone.  For  this  they  had  to  pay 
three  pennies.  Among  the  common  people  in  these 
regions  it  is  not  the  custom  to  shave  each  week;  never 
more  frequently  than  four  weeks,  and  often  not  until 
eight  have  passed.  Fourteen  days  later  I  said  good-by 
to  Carlowitz,  and  traveled  through  a  mountain  region  to 
a  little  market  town  called  Ruma.  Here  I  immediately 
found  work  as  assistant  to  a  district  surgeon.  I  liked 

ll 


this  place  much  better,  because  my  duties  consisted  not 
only  of  trimming  beards,  washing  heads  and  cleaning 
the  ears  of  farmers,  but  because  I  also  had  an  oppor 
tunity  to  perform  various  surgical  operations.  My 
master  was  superintendent  of  a  hospital  in  which  daily 
operations,  amputations  and  trepannings  were  per 
formed.  Johannes  Leben — that  was  the  name  ot  this 
district  surgeon — was  a  Catholic,  but  his  wife  was 
Lutheran  and  a  native  of  the  province  of  Brandenburg. 
In  this  situation  I  decided  to  remain  a  long  time,  partly 
because  I  had  a  chance  to  gain  more  experience  in  my 
profession,  and  also  because  winter  was  approaching 
and  knowing  how  hard  I  was  to  please,  I  hesitated  to 
push  on  tarther.  The  New  Year  presents  that  I  re 
ceived  from  my  regular  customers  among  those  whom  I 
shaved,  amounted  to  almost  twenty  gulden.  During 
my  sojourn  in  this  place  my  master  died.  The  village 
judge,  who  was  a  native  of  Leipzig  and  a  countryman  of 
mine,  tried  to  persuade  me  to  marry  the  widow.  The 
proposition  was  not  a  bad  one.  I  really  liked  the  little 
woman.  She  had  no  children,  a  comfortable  home,  a 
respectable  pharmacy  and  all  the  surgical  instruments 
necessary  to  open  a  practice.  Very  tempting  were  the 
conditions  under  which  I  could  settle  in  this  place;  but 
I  felt  that  my  knowledge  of  medicine  was  not  sufficient, 
and  my  skill  in  surgery  too  slight  to  perform  honorably 
the  duties  of  a  surgeon;  and  chiefly  again  my  restless 
spirit  induced  me  not  to  remain  there,  but  to  hurry  on  out 
into  the  wide  world.  Well  did  I  remember  the  proverb 
my  father  used  to  recite  so  often:  "Fronte  capilata  post 
haec  occasio  calva."  (If  you  make  a  habit  of  seizing 
fortune  by  the  forelock,  there  will  come  a  time  when  she 
will  be  bald.)  But  the  voice  of  my  inclination  coun 
seled  me  differently.  Obedient  to  it,  I  said  goodby  at 
the  first  appearance  of  spring  and  hurried  with  a  light 

12 


heart  to  Semlin,  a  big,  well-built  market  town  at  the 
junction  of  the  Sau  with  the  Danube.  This  place  also 
lies  opposite  the  well  known  Turkish  fortress,  Belgrade. 
I  had  a  great  desire  to  travel  from  Semlin  through 
Turkey  to  Constantinople  but  they  persuaded  me  not  to 
enter  Turkey,  since  traveling  in  that  country,  inhabited 
by  barbarians,  could  not  be  very  safe.  And  just  at  that 
time  a  plague  was  sweeping  through  those  parts. 
Much  as  I  desired  to  travel  to  Constantinople,  Damas 
cus,  Jerusalem  and  other  places,  I  felt  little  inclined  to 
have  my  young  life  cut  short  by  a  plague  or  a  raving 
Mohammedan.  I  stamped  my  feet  in  rage  on  the 
Turkish  border,  because  Asiatic  barbarians  were  in 
possession  of  beautiful  lands  in  which  the  tree  of  Euro 
pean  culture  first  blossomed  so  wonderfully,  where  the 
human  mind  first  unfolded  its  powers,  where  Rome,  the 
mistress  of  the  world,  enforced  her  laws,  and  to  which 
for  many  centuries  scientists  and  artists  made  pilgrim 
ages  as  to  a  holy  land.  At  Semlin  the  world  seemed  to 
be  nailed  up;  for  no  one  was  allowed  to  cross  the  Turk 
ish  boundary  unless  he  were  willing  to  run  the  risk  of 
being  held  on  his  return,  often  as  long  as  seven  weeks  in 
quarantine.  All  the  Greek  and  Turkish  merchants 
crossing  the  border  from  Turkey  were  liable  to  this  in 
convenience.  In  Semlin  there  were  Turkish  merchants 
besides  Christian  and  Jewish.  So  it  happened  that  in 
each  week,  three  Sundays  were  celebrated:  Friday,  the 
holy  day  of  the  Turks,  Saturday,  the  Sabbath  of  the 
Jews,  and  the  following  day  was  observed  as  Sunday  by 
the  Christians.  Decidedly  against  my  inclinations,  I 
had  to  take  backward  steps  from  Semlin.  Near  Bel 
grade,  I  crossed  the  Danube,  and  after  seeing  the 
Janitschar  parading  around  the  fortifications,  I  went  on 
to  Banzowa  a  small  town  with  good,  solidly-built 'houses 
and  very  well  protected  by  walls  and  sentry  boxes. 

13 


I  took  lodgings  in  an  inn,  to  have  my  noonday  meal 
and  to  pick  up  a  traveling  companion,  since  it  was  very 
dangerous  to  travel  alone  in  these  regions.  But  aside 
from  the  people  who  kept  the  inn,  I  saw  no  one  but  a 
man  reading  a  book.  I  was  very  curious  to  know  what 
the  book  might  be  that  he  was  perusing  so  diligently, 
and  after  he  had  left  the  room,  I  picked  it  up  and  saw  at 
a  glance  that  it  was  the  New  Testament.  Before  I 
could  lay  the  volume  back  on  the  table  the  man  entered 
the  room  again,  and  asked  me  in  Slavic  if  I  knew  what 
book  that  was. 

Since  I  had  been  an  assistant  to  a  Slavic  surgeon  and 
had  had  a  chance  to  learn  the  language,  which  is  some 
what  similar  to  Wendish,  I  answered,  "yes."  So  I  was 
obliged  to  read  a  chapter  of  the  New  Testament  to  this 
man,  who  was  a  Greek  merchant.  He  was  greatly 
pleased,  and  started  a  conversation  with  me.  After  I 
had  disclosed  to  him  my  intention  to  travel  to  Sieben- 
buergen,  he  said  that  his  residence  lay  in  the  same  direc 
tion  and  offered  me  a  seat  in  his  carriage  and  also  to  pay 
my  expenses,  which  courtesy  I  accepted  with  many 
thanks.  Furthermore  he  promised  to  do  his  best  to  get 
me  a  position  in  his  home  city,  saying  that  there  was  a 
German  district  surgeon  in  charge  of  the  big  hospital. 

This  gentleman  lived  up  to  his  promise.  I  secured  a 
position  in  his  native  city.  After  I  had  remained  there 
for  half  a  year,  had  witnessed  many  surgical  operations 
and  gained  much  experience  on  the  medical  side  of  my 
profession,  I  resigned  and  continued  my  way  to  Sieben- 
buergen.  During  this  journey,  I  passed  at  one  time  a 
village  inhabited  by  Wallachs.  The  houses  were  the 
shape  of  sugar  loaves  and  were  built  of  turf  and  clay. 
Instead  of  windows,  these  dwellings  had  openings 
over  which  oiled  paper  was  pasted.  In  the  middle  of 
these  habitations  burned  a  fire  around  which  the  in- 

14 


habitants  were  grouped.  I  entered  one  of  these  places 
and  asked  for  refreshment.  They  gave  me  a  long- 
handled  gourd  filled  with  very  strong  brandy  made  of 
unripe  plums  and  other  fruits.  I  took  a  big  drink  from 
the  vessel  and  very  soon  felt  a  burning  in  my  stomach. 
I  complained  of  the  pain,  and  they  gave  me  half  a  water 
melon  to  extinguish  the  fire  in  my  vitals.  The  water 
melon,  which  was  blood-red  inside,  was  very  cooling  and 
I  found  it  more  palatable  than  the  sugar  melon  common 
with  us  in  Germany.  Finally  I  arrived  at  the  fortress 
Temeswar,  surrounded  by  wastes  and  swamps,  and  at 
least  for  the  Germans  that  emigrated  to  this  part  of  the 
country,  not  very  salubrious.  I  found  that  out  myself. 
Not  long  after  my  arrival  I  came  down  with  an  inter 
mittent  fever  from  which  I  suffered  four  weeks.  At 
this  place  I  decided  not  to  go  on  to  Siebenbuergen,  and 
following  the  advice  of  the  surgeon  who  looked  after  me 
during  my  illness,  returned  to  Of  en  and  to  Vienna, 
passing  through  the  German  Empire  towards  the  cities 
on  the  North  Sea  where  surgeons  are  always  in  demand, 
especially  for  boats  bound  for  the  East  Indies  and 
America.  My  passage  to  Of  en  did  not  cost  me  a  cent. 
I  fell  in  with  a  military  transport  and  marched  with  the 
soldiers  to  Of  en.  I  felt  as  it  I  were  coming  home  on  my 
arrival  in  this  city.  Although  Of  en  is  thirty-six  miles 
away  from  Vienna,  the  splendid  King's  Highway  starts 
here.  The  villages  are  not  so  far  apart  and  the  Hun 
garians  are  much  more  civilized  than  the  Wallachs. 

I  stayed  only  one  day  in  Vienna,  afraid  that  the  same 
misfortune  that  marked  my  first  visit  in  the  city  might 
happen  to  me  again.  Through  the  lovely,  romantic 
regions  of  Lower  Austria  I  hurried  to  Regensburg,  where 
I  received  some  assistance  and  where  I  remained  only 
four  weeks.  Here  I  was,  however,  put  to  the  necessity 
of  selling  all  my  books  containing  the  medical  and  sur- 

15 


gical  notes  that  I  had  collected  during  my  practice.  I 
traveled  from  Regensburg  to  Stuttgard  and  Ludwigslust 
in  Wuertenberg.  Here  I  met  a  relative  of  mine  who  was 
a  wigmaker  and  who  wanted  to  teach  me  his  noble  art. 
I  refused  his  offer,  left  him  after  a  few  days,  and  went  to 
Rastadt,  which  is  now  the  German  fortress  Landau. 
From  thence  I  went  to  Mannheim,  beautifully  laid 
out  and  consistently  built.  After  I  had  visited  Frank- 
fort-on-Main,  I  traveled  through  Hessia,  to  Hildesheim, 
to  Hanover  and  Bremen.  I  could  not  get  a  position  in 
any  one  of  these  cities.  Therefore  I  decided  to  go  sea 
faring.  With  this  determination  I  started  for  Stade  and 
Buxtehude,  where  I  passed  over  the  river  to  Hamburg. 
I  remained  in  Hamburg  several  days.  On  one  occasion 
I  took  a  walk  outside  the  walls  and  ascended  the  so- 
called  Hamburger  Mountain.  At  the  foot  of  this  moun 
tain  I  saw  nearby  a  beautiful  city.  This  Danish  Ham 
burg  was  Altona.  During  this  walk  I  met  some  men 
who  must  have  remarked  that  I  was  a  stranger.  They 
asked  me  where  I  came  from  and  what  profession  I  fol 
lowed.  When  I  told  them  I  was  from  Saxony,  they  ex 
claimed,  seeming  greatly  pleased:  "From  Saxony!  What 
city  is  your  home?  Not  Dresden  or  Leipzig?  We  too  are 
from  Saxony  and  are  therefore  your  countrymen!" 
They  listened  attentively  to  the  story  of  my  life,  and 
when  they  heard  that  I  was  tired  of  my  wanderings  on 
land,  and  that  I  had  been  unable  to  find  a  position  for 
some  time,  their  faces  seemed  to  mirror  some  secret  joy. 
After  they  had  become  acquainted  with  the  facts  of  my 
history,  they  cut  me  off  in  the  middle  of  a  sentence  and 
said:  "But  why  do  you  run  around  blindly?  You 
will  find  that  you  will  hardly  be  able  to  get  a  position  in 
Hamburg  or  in  Altona.  Come  with  us  to  Altona.  We 
will  drink  a  bottle  of  wine  there,  have  some  breakfast 
and  talk  matters  over."  The  pretended  countrymen 

16 


assured  me  that  they  were  overjoyed  to  have  met  a 
Saxon  and  without  my  solicitation  promised  to  look 
after  my  interests.  After  we  had  reached  the  wine 
cellar,  they  ordered  bread,  butter  and  cold  roast  and 
turned  the  conversation  to  the  East  and  West  Indies. 
When  they  heard  that  I  had  desired  for  a  long  time  to 
visit  these  happy  places,  and  that  it  was  one  of  my  cher 
ished  wishes  to  obtain  a  position  as  ship's  surgeon,  they 
promised  immediately  to  give  me  a  recommendation  to 
their  good  friend,  a  ship's  captain  in  Amsterdam,  who 
surely  would  be  able  to  procure  me  the  desired  position. 
They  also  promised  to  pay  my  passage  to  Amsterdam 
and  my  board.  The  same  day  I  received  from  my 
alleged  countrymen  all  that  was  necessary.  They  gave 
me  a  good  dinner  of  roast  veal  and  brought  me  aboard 
the  ship  that  was  to  sail  to  Amsterdam.  There  were  on 
the  deck  of  this  ship  about  fifty  young  men  and  women 
who,  influenced  by  pretended  friendly  countrymen,  had 
decided  to  go  to  the  East  and  West  Indies;  and  all  of 
whom  had  been  recommended  to  their  good  friend  just 
as  I  had  been.  It  was  then  that  I  understood  that  I  had 
been  lured  on  board  this  ship  by  notorious  slavers  and 
so-called  soul-venders,  and  why  they  had  rejoiced  as 
soon  as  they  knew  that  I  desired  to  go  to  the  East 
Indies  or  to  America.  It  was  quite  necessary  in  those 
days  to  keep  on  the  lookout  for  such  men  in  the  Hansa 
cities.  Many  young  men  and  young  women  were  per 
suaded  by  them  to  go  on  a  search  in  foreign  parts  of  the 
world  for  a  fortune  that  they  could  have  found  just  as 
well  or  even  better  at  home.  Although  I  now  knew 
that  my  pretended  countrymen  had  no  honest  inten 
tions  towards  me,  and  that  while  showing  me  affection 
and  love,  they  had  been  working  only  for  the  money 
they  received  from  the  shippers  of  human  freight  or 
dealers  in  human  flesh  to  be  delivered  in  Amsterdam,  I 

17* 


felt  no  decided  rancor  against  them,  because  I  desired 
so  much  to  seek  my  fortune  in  another  part  of  the  world, 
and  because  it  was  through  these  people  that  I  had 
secured  my  promise  to  be  made  surgeon  of  the  ship. 
The  next  morning  the  vessel  put  out  to  sea.  I  thought 
of  my  parents  and  my  brothers  and  sisters,  calling  fare 
well  to  them  in  spirit.  With  a  favorable  wind,  after 
three  days,  we  reached  Amsterdam.  When  the  ship 
landed,  the  dealers  in  humankind  came  forward.  One 
took  in  charge  ten,  another  twenty  and  another  thirty. 
Myself  with  many  others,  they  led  along  several  streets 
to  a  house  in  which  we  were  placed  in  company  with 
perhaps  one  hundred  apprentices.  They  welcomed  us 
joyfully  with  the  question:  "Were  we,  too,  going  to 
East  India?"  In  this  lock-up  we  had  everything  we 
wanted.  We  received  in  the  morning  buttermilk  soup, 
at  noonday  meat  with  vegetables,  and  in  the  evening 
soup  again.  At  night  we  slept  in  hammocks  in  which 
we  could  rock  like  a  child  in  a  cradle.  These  hammocks 
were  given  to  us  by  the  slavers  with  a  purpose.  The 
swaying  of  the  hammocks  was  intended  to  accustom  us 
to  the  rocking  of  the  boat.  It  can  be  easily  understood 
that  this  dormitory  resounded  with  lively  talk,  since 
all  of  us  were  young,  healthy  men  expecting  to  acquire 
riches  and  treasure  on  the  other  side  of  the  ocean.  One 
fell  out  of  his  hammock,  because  the  old  rope  with  which 
it  was  fastened,  broke.  Another  ascended  without 
suspicion  his  pendulous  bed,  but  fell  to  the  floor  very 
soon  because  a  mischievous  neighbor  had  cut  the  cords 
which  held  it  up.  Nothing  else  was  wanted  here  by  the 
young  people  but  golden  liberty,  and  even  of  this  we 
were  not  robbed  altogether.  Every  day  we  were  led, 
by  two  and  two,  from  the  city  to  the  neighborhood  of 
the  windmills,  where  we  could  play  ball  under  the  super 
vision  of  our  guards,  or  could  pass  the  time  according  to 

18 


our  liking.  At  sunset,  however,  we  had  to  march  back 
in  the  prescribed  order,  and  were  locked  up  in  the  big 
room.  As  little  as  I  believed  in  the  highmindedness  of 
the  slavers,  I  must  confess  to  their  credit  that  they  did 
all  in  their  power  to  place  us  each  according  to  our 
liking.  Thus  they  tried  very  hard  to  have  me  appointed 
as  ship's  surgeon.  They  registered  me  at  the  East 
Indian  House  as  a  surgeon.  Immediately  I  received 
beautiful  clothes  to  wear,  and  a  silver  time-piece,  and 
was  ordered  to  report  for  examination.  But  I  am  sorry 
to  say,  I  came  too  late.  Another  had  already  been 
accepted.  The  boats  bound  for  the  East  Indies  had  all 
sailed  for  this  season.  I  was  advised  there  would  be  no 
more  call  this  year  for  surgeons  on  the  East  Indian 
ships.  I  returned  sadly  to  my  lock-up,  took  off  my 
nice  uniform  and  my  silver  watch,  and  at  the  orders  of 
the  master,  donned  again  my  old  clothes. 

A  few  days  later  the  master  entered  our  room  and 
exclaimed:  "Boys,  there  is  one  ship  more  leaving  port, 
bound  for  America.  It  is  a  wonderful  country,  where 
gold  grows  and  pearl  fisheries  abound.  And  moreover, 
it  is  not  as  far  as  the  East  Indies.  My  son  was  there 
only  three  years,  and  made  so  much  money  that  after 
his  return  he  bought  a  house  for  himself  here  in  Amster 
dam.  Of  course  you  will  have  to  work  one  or  two  years 
without  receiving  any  salary,  in  order  to  pay  for  your 
board  and  transportation;  but  after  that  you  will  be 
free.  You  may  go  wherever  you  please  and  earn  daily 
two  or  three  dollars,  doing  quite  easy  tasks,  such  as 
loading  and  unloading  ships.  And  naturally  if  you  have 
a  profession  you  can  practise  it  just  as  you  please/' 

Shortly  after  this  discourse  of  our  master,  we  all, 
weary  of  this  life  without  liberty,  decided  to  emigrate 
to  America.  We  were  shipped  immediately  in  big  boats 
to  Rotterdam,  where  we  received  an  excellent  noonday 

19 


meal  and  as  much  wine  as  we  wanted;  perhaps  to  give 
us  courage.  Then  we  were  taken  to  a  great  three- 
masted  schooner  that  lay  at  anchor  in  the  river  Meuve. 
On  board  this  boat,  there  had  already  been  gathered 
about  three  hundred  persons,  mostly  handcraftsmen 
and  young  women  clothed  in  blue  striped  Jinen  dresses. 
We  too  were  provided  on  the  spot  with  jackets,  shirts 
and  trousers  of  the  same  color.  The  following  day  our 
ship  started  with  a  favoring  wind  towards  England.  In 
a  few  days  we  reached  the  channel  that  divides  England 
from  France  and  unites  the  North  or  German  Sea  with 
the  Atlantic  Ocean.  We  anchored  near  Dover,  which 
is  an  unimportant  city  and  has  a  fortress  in  which  there 
are  generally  Crown  prisoners  incarcerated.  This  city 
is  noteworthy  chiefly  because  of  the  short  passage  thence 
to  Calais  in  France.  Ships  were  constantly  coming  and 
going.  We  remained  here  only  one  night,  and  sailed  on 
the  following  day  to  Portsmouth,  which  is  a  fortified 
city  with  an  excellent  harbor  in  which  were  to  be  seen 
several  English  war  vessels.  Our  ship  rode  at  anchor 
here  for  a  few  days,  and  took  in  fresh  meat  and  fresh 
beer.  The  vessel  was  also  visited  by  commissioners 
who  examined  everything  and  registered  the  entire 
ship's  crew.  The  sails  were  repaired  and  everything 
examined  and  put  in  condition  necessary  for  a  trip 
across  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  One  evening  after  every 
thing  was  in  readiness,  we  set  sail  for  America.  But  we 
had  proceeded  only  a  few  days  westward  when  there 
sprang  up  an  unfavorable  wind  that  drove  our  ship  now 
this  way  and  now  that.  As  a  result  the  greater  part  of 
the  ship's  crew  became  violently  ill;  even  the  captain 
himself  vomited  constantly  like  the  rest  of  us,  and 
almost  threw  up  his  intestines.  This  sickness,  caused 
by  the  constant  rolling  of  the  ship,  lasted  with  some  for 
eight  days.  After  we  had  recovered,  food  began  to 

20 


taste  all  the  better,  we  were  merry;  we  sang  and  whis 
tled.  This  care-free  life  was  interrupted  by  a  little 
storm  that  broke  over  us,  and  was  so  severe  that  it  tore 
away  the  railing  of  the  deck  and  the  private  chambers 
fastened  to  it.  The  loss  of  these  was  hard  on  all  of  us; 
especially  on  the  women.  For  they,  while  performing 
the  duties  of  nature,  had  to  forego  all  sense  of  shame. 
Each  one,  when  one  wished  to  relieve  oneself,  must  hold 
to  the  ship's  rope  with  one  hand,  while  with  the  other, 
hold  one's  clothes  over  one's  head  and  let  oneself  be 
splashed  by  the  brine  whenever  the  waves  ran  high 
enough.  Mentioning  this  indecency  forced  upon  us  by 
necessity,  I  wish  to  speak  about  a  far  more  serious  and 
deplorable  custom  which  was  permitted  on  this  trans 
portation  boat.  Men  and  women  did  not  sleep  in  sepa 
rate  cabins;  the  sixty  girls  were  distributed  among  the 
three  hundred  men  in  their  quarters.  It  can  be  easily 
understood  how  wide,  under  these  circumstances,  the 
doors  of  immorality  were  opened.  I  see  tears  in  the 
eyes  of  the  angel  of  innocence  and  he  covers  his  face. 
Perhaps  such  reprehensible  practices  are  no  longer  in 
force  on  transport  ships,  and  should  they  be,  I  wish  that 
the  philanthropic  statesman  of  Holland,  the  noble- 
minded  Baron  of  Gagern,  might  succeed  in  ending  them. 
I  would  advise  unmarried  women  who  have  not  the 
means  to  take  quarters  in  the  Captain's  cabin,  not  even 
to  enter  a  ship.  Their  innocence  is  much  more  in  dan 
ger  than  on  land.  Some  one  may  bring  up  the  ques 
tion:  Why  did  the  captain  permit  persons  of  different 
sexes  to  spend  the  night  together  on  his  ship?  Oh!  If 
I  did  not  have  to  answer  that  a  pernicious,  unpardonable 
love  of  money,  the  root  of  all  evil,  was  at  the  bottom  of 
this!  Of  course,  the  ship's  captain  could  expect  to 
receive  for  a  woman  who  was  with  child  a  greater 
amount  of  money  upon  landing  in  America.  Many 

21 


of  the  girls  on  board  died  a  frightful  death  before  the 
ship  landed.  Once  they  contracted  the  loathsome 
disease,  by  some  called  the  " gallant"  one,  they  usually 
met  their  cruel  end.  This  will  surprise  no  one  who 
knows  the  character  of  this  terrible  disease  and  the 
conditions  necessary  for  its  cure.  The  treatment  of 
this  disease  calls  specifically  for  fresh  nourishing  food, 
pure  air  and  good  nursing.  All  of  these  are  lacking  on 
board  a  ship.  The  women  worst  infected  were  taken 
into  a  separate  cabin  under  the  capstan,  where  they 
died  in  unutterable  misery.  No  one  came  near  this 
spot  unless  obliged  to,  because  of  the  horrible  odor  that 
prevailed  there.  The  deceased  were  sewed  up  in  a 
piece  of  sail  cloth,  a  bag  filled  with  sand  was  tied  to  the 
feet,  and  they  were  buried  in  the  waves  of  the  sea. 
Usually  the  bodies  thrown  into  the  water  were  immedi 
ately  claimed  as  prey  by  the  big  fish.  The  captain 
found  that  if  a  number  of  these  fish  were  swimming  near 
the  ship  in  the  morning,  he  might  conclude  that  corpses 
had  been  thrown  overboard  in  the  night.  After  some 
time,  I  had  a  very  violent  fever  that,  as  my  companions 
told  me,  brought  me  very  near  death. 

I  suffered  utter  delirium,  and  the  surgeon  was  obliged 
to  let  blood  from  both  my  arms  of  which  I  knew  nothing. 
Of  this  attack  I  remember  naught  save  the  torture  like 
the  suffering  of  the  damned  that  I  saw  constantly  in  my 
dreams.  After  I  had  recovered  my  mental  balance,  I 
often  prayed  with  all  my  soul  for  the  forgiveness  of  my 
trespasses  and  sins.  I  was  quite  aware  that  I  had  not 
respected  the  commands  of  our  holy  God. 

By  the  help  of  God  I  soon  recovered  fully.  Our 
progress  was  very  slow  as  we  had  most  of  the  time  winds 
from  the  wrong  direction.  Since  our  departure  from 
the  English  coast,  fifteen  weeks  had  passed,  while  we 
were  on  the  high  seas  and  without  sight  of  any  land. 

22 


Then  our  ship's  captain,  determining  the  longitude  at 
noon  in  bright  sunlight  with  his  instruments,  announced 
that  we  would  sight  the  dry  land  of  America  within 
twenty-four  hours.  His  prediction  was  fulfilled  on  the 
following  day.  Every  one  shouted  with  joy  at  the 
sight  of  the  American  coast.  Already  we  saw  coming 
towards  us  from  shore,  pilots  and  tugs  to  guide  us  past 
the  shoals.  It  was  a  windless,  murky  August  day.  The 
sea  shone  like  a  great  clear  mirror  framed  in  the  coast  of 
America;  hardly  a  breath  of  air  rippled  the  water's  sur 
face  but  a  countless  multitude  of  fishes  could  be  seen 
playing  around  the  boat.  Even  the  monsters  of  the 
deep  raised  their  huge  awkward  bodies  close  to  the  sur 
face  with  an  undulating  motion,  and  then  sank  again  to 
the  black  depths  where  they  belonged,  and  then  the 
captain  said  to  us:  "Children,  pray,  we  are  going  to 
have  a  storm. "  Soon  we  heard  a  distant  rumbling;  the 
sun  began  to  darken ;  everything  on  the  boat  was  in  the 
greatest  commotion  in  which  many  human  voices 
mingled;  with  all  possible  speed  the  seamen  furled  the 
sails  and  bound  them  fast.  The  American  pilots  turned 
and  hurried  with  their  little  boats  coast  ward.  The 
hatches  were  closed  and  over  them  were  nailed  pieces  of 
strong  canvas  soaked  in  tar.  Ever  stronger  and  more 
terrifying  became  the  roaring  of  the  hurricane.  Like 
black,  forbidding  chains  of  mountains  we  saw  the  waves 
piled  up  by  the  storm  bearing  down  upon  us.  The  light 
ning  tore  through  the  frightfully  black  heavens  and  the 
thunder  roared.  Suddenly  the  ship  flew  like  a  ball,  now 
among  the  clouds,  and  now  as  swift  as  an  arrow,  into  the 
trough  of  the  sea.  All  around  powerful  bolts  of  light 
ning  fell  into  a  fearfully  raging  sea,  and  the  thunder 
exploded  with  terrific  report.  In  inexpressible  rage  the 
waves  beat  against  the  ship,  or  coming  from  opposite 
directions  collided  with  each  other  above  the  decks. 

23 


Every  minute  was  as  if  we  were  suffering  the  most 
terrific  bombardment.  Every  one  was  praying,  and 
even  the  nefarious  and  the  God-forsaken,  of  which  there 
were  plenty  on  board  the  ship,  folded  their  hands  as  the 
Lord  of  the  worlds  spoke  to  them  through  the  heart- 
crushing  voice  of  the  elements. 

As  the  sun  on  the  following  day  scattered  his  rays 
over  a  quiet  sea,  I,  with  many  others,  in  prayer  and 
song,  thanked  the  Lord  who  helps,  and  even  in  the  mercy 
of  His  judgment,  saves  from  death.  Oh,  how  unworthy 
of  His  grace  were  the  most  of  us  on  board  that  ship! 
Our  eyes  could  no  longer  see  the  coast  of  America,  so 
longed  for  and  so  joyfully  hailed.  The  drinking  water 
became  scarce,  and  for  this  reason  we  did  not  receive 
more  than  half  a  measure  of  water  daily.  Besides, 
this  had  a  very  unpleasant  smell  and  tasted  like  ink. 
Notwithstanding,  they  fed  us  day  after  day  with  salted 
meat  that  increased  our  thirst.  We  received  cheese  on 
certain  days.  In  need  of  more  fluid,  I  gladly  exchanged 
as  did  many  others,  my  portion  of  cheese  for  half  a 
measure  of  water. 

To  prevent  myself  from  drinking  more  water  than 
absolutely  necessary  to  quench  the  thirst  from  which  I 
constantly  suffered,  I  stuck  a  quill  through  the  cork  of 
the  water  bottle  and  drew  in  the  fluid  slowly.  Not  only 
did  this  portion  of  water  that  we  received  not  suffice  to 
quench  our  thirst,  but  it  was  also  needed  to  soften  the 
ship's  biscuit,  to  cook  the  peas,  the  oatmeal,  and  the 
meat.  The  bread  that  we  received  was  so  hard  that  an 
axe  was  required  to  break  it,  and  it  looked  green  and 
yellow  inside.  The  peas  were  only  half  cooked  and 
were  very  difficult  to  digest.  We  liked  best  the  oat 
meal  rations.  It  can1  easily  be  seen  why  we  desired 
even  more  than  ever  to  reach  dry  land,  and  why  we 
were  more  than  happy  when  we  sighted  it  for  the  second 

24 


time,  after  a  lapse  of  three  long  weeks.  Again  the 
pilots  that  we  had  seen  once  before  came  toward  us  in 
their  little  boats,  and  this  time  guided  us  successfully 
into  the  great  arm  of  the  sea  leading  to  Philadelphia, 
called  Delaware  Bay,  which  is  eighty  miles  long  and  three 
miles  wide.  But  yet  eight  days  passed  before  we 
reached  Philadelphia,  because  the  ship  could  proceed 
only  very  slowly  on  account  of  the  current  of  the  Dela 
ware.  We  anchored  amid  stream  in  the  river  and  took 
delight  in  gazing  at  the  great  beautiful  city  of  Phila 
delphia.  On  the  following  day,  we  were  led  to  a  build 
ing  in  the  city,  where  we  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
King  George  III.  of  England,  under  whose  control  at 
that  time  the  North  American  territory  was.  As  we 
put  our  feet  on  land,  on  coming  from  the  ship,  the  earth 
seemed  to  sway  beneath  us  and  we  staggered  like 
drunken  men.  But  this  condition  lasted  for  only  a 
quarter  of  an  hour.  Philadelphia  is  very  beautiful  and 
built  with  nearly  the  same  regularity  as  Mannheim;  but 
is  much  larger.  The  number  of  houses  at  that  time  in 
the  city  was  estimated  at  six  thousand  and  it  was  said 
that  forty  thousand  people  Jived  in  them.  Now  the 
city  is  said  to  have  fourteen  thousand  houses  and  more 
than  ninety  thousand  inhabitants.  It  is  situated  at  the 
confluence  of  the  Schuylkill  and  the  Delaware  rivers. 
The  streets  run  in  straight  lines  from  the  water  front  and 
are  called  by  numbers,  as  First,  Second,  Third,  Fourth, 
Fifth,  Sixth,  Seventh  Street.  These  streets  intersect 
King's  and  Market  Streets.  The  latter  is  broad  and 
has  fine,  massive  arcades  under  which  the  merchants 
offer  their  wares.  This  street  is  similar  to  the  Muehl- 
endamm  in  Berlin.  On  both  sides  of  this  thoroughfare 
carriages  can  be  driven  without  hitting  each  other,  and 
during  rainy  weather  it  is  possible  to  walk  past  the 
houses  on  dry  cobble  stones,  under  balconies.  There 

25 


are  more  than  twenty  churches  here,  in  which  the  in 
habitants  belonging  to  different  religious  sects  worship 
in  their  own  way  the  unseen,  perfect  Creator  of  all 
things  whom  we  call  God.  Whoever  sees  in  this  place 
the  churches  of  many  different  religious  sects,  among 
which  even  Anabaptists  and  Universalists,  and  who 
listens  to  services  here  in  English,  there  in  German, 
here  in  Swedish,  there  in  French,  must  confess  that  this 
city  has  been  rightiy  called  the  City  of  Brotherly  Love. 
Among  other  things  worth  seeing  are  the  well-equipped 
workhouse  and  reformatory,  with  which  are  connected 
a  lying-in  hospital,  an  orphans'  asylum  and  an  infirm 
ary.  This  house  is  massively  built  and  has  in  the  center 
a  paved  court  where  the  prisoners  can  take  exercise. 
The  prisons  are  paved,  kept  clean  and  furnished  with 
the  necessary  windows.  Beautiful  boulevards  are  laid 
out  around  the  city,  and  not  very  far  away  little  groves 
of  chestnut  and  other  nut  trees  afford  refreshing  shade. 
Near  Philadelphia  is  situated  Germantown,  a  little  city 
mostly  inhabited  by  Germans,  who  make  their  living 
mainly  by  building  carriages  and  weaving  linen.  Many 
Germans  also  live  in  Lancaster,  where  they  engage  in 
manufacture,  principally  of  woolen  and  cotton  cloth. 
After  we  had  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  king 
of  England,  we  were  obliged  to  return  to  the  boat. 
Shortly  after,  an  announcement  could  have  been  read 
not  only  on  the  street  corners  of  Philadelphia,  but  also 
in  the  American  newspapers:  "That  a  boat  at  present 
lying  in  the  harbor  of  Philadelphia  had  arrived  from 
Europe  carrying  a  load  of  male  and  female  persons,  and 
that  whoever  might  wish  to  purchase  some  of  them,  was 
invited  to  visit  the  boat."  Shortly  afterwards,  pro 
fessional  men  arrived  from  the  cities  and  owners  of 
plantations  from  the  country,  who  bargained  with  the 
ship's  captain  for  our  persons.  We  had  to  strip  naked, 

26 


so  that  the  prospective  purchasers  could  see  that  we  had 
perfectly  developed  and  healthy  bodies.  After  the 
purchaser  had  made  a  selection,  he  asked:  "How  much 
is  this  boy  or  this  girl?"  Many  strong  and  healthy 
young  men,  and  especially  the  pregnant  women  brought 
as  much  as  sixty  pounds  sterling  ($300.00).  Some  of 
my  companions  had  to  serve  ten,  twelve,  or  even  more 
years  without  receiving  anything  more  than  their  board 
and  clothes.  This  amount  of  money  was  received  by 
the  captain  in  payment  for  our1  transportation  to  Ameri 
ca  and  for  our  board.  The  length  of  service  was  ac 
cording  to  the  price.  After  these  aliens  had  worked  for 
the  time  required,  they  received  a  certificate  of  freedom. 
Then  they  had  to  decide  whether  they  would  hire  them 
selves  out  or  start  in  business  on  their  own  account. 
These  servants  were  not  given  wholly  over  to  the  dis 
cretion  of  their  masters,  but  were  still  to  some  extent 
under  the  protection  of  the  law;  and  the  only  difference 
between  them  and  free  citizens  was  that  for  the  speci 
fied  time,  they  could  not  work  for  themselves.  So  it  is 
easily  seen  that  the  conditions  under  which  we  had  to 
labor  after  our  arrival  in  North  America  were  in  no  way 
a  formal  and  life-long  slavery,  and  that  we  could  have 
gone  immediately  about  our  own  business,  had  we  been 
in  the  position  to  pay  the  ship's  captain  what  we  owed 
him.  Even  now,  as  I  am  informed,  the  poor  European 
arrivals  in  North  America  have  to  work  out  the  cost  of 
their  transportation  after  they  land  there ;  but  they  are 
no  longer  exposed  to  the  whims  and  avarice  of  ship's 
captains,  as  previously.  In  latter  times,  the  Baron  of 
Gagern,  known  as  a  wise  and  philanthropic  man,  did 
very  much  to  ameliorate  the  conditions  of  immigrants, 
and  in  Philadelphia  there  exists  at  this  time  a  humani 
tarian  society  for  their  assistance. 

Soon  the  persons  that  composed  the  load  of  our  ship 

27 


were  all  sold  except  six  boys,  among  whom  was  myself. 
They,  like  myself,  were  unwilling  to  consent  to  a  long 
term  of  service.  This  made  the  ship's  captain  wild  with 
anger  and  he  threatened,  if  we  refused  again  to  take 
service  in  America  under  his  conditions,  to  carry  us  to 
the  Antilles,  especially  to  Barbadoes,  where  the  heat  is 
unbearable  and  where  we  would  have  to  work  with 
negroes.  We  realized  that  we  would  gain  nothing  by 
a  trip  to  the  West  Indies,  where  our  miserable  fate  would 
become  even  more  intolerable,  and  that  there  was  no 
salvation  from  the  power  of  the  ship's  captain;  so  we 
resolved  to  work  out  the  cost  of  transportation  in  the 
climate  of  Philadelphia.  The  captain  asked  for  me 
thirty  pounds  sterling  and  I  had  to  bind  myself  for  the 
term  of  six  years  to  the  master  or  overseer  that  paid 
this  amount  of  money.  The  master  who  paid  this 
money  for  me —  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars — • 
was  the  owner  of  a  plantation  in  the  province  of  New 
Jersey,  and  a  member  of  the  religious  sect  of  the 
Quakers.  I  dined  excellently  with  my  new  master  in 
Philadelphia,  and  we  drank  a  bowl  of  punch.  Later  we 
crossed  the  Delaware  in  a  skiff  and  stopped  at  an  inn. 
He  had  left  his  horse  here,  and  as  he  expected  to  leave 
shortly,  he  directed  me  to  proceed  through  a  beautiful 
oak  forest,  promising  to  overtake  me  a  little  later,  on 
horseback.  I  kept  to  the  direction  he  had  given  me,  and 
arrived  at  a  fruit  orchard  where  mainly  apple  trees  were 
growing.  I  sprang  over  the  fence  of  the  orchard  and 
gathered  up  a  number  of  the  apples  lying  there  and 
which  tasted  very  good;  then  continued  on  my  way. 
In  the  meantime  it  had  grown  dark  and  my  master1  was 
nowhere  in  sight. 

Shortly  after,  I  espied  a  light  in  a  little  house  which 
I  approached.  The  family  sat  around  the  table  eating 
their  evening  meal.  They  soon  discovered  that  I  came 

28 


from  the  boat  and  opened  up  a  conversation  with  me; 
but  as  they  spoke  English,  I  was  unable  to  understand 
them.  They  urged  me  to  take  a  place  with  them  at  the 
table,  and  gave  me  a  little  bowl  of  Turkish  wheat  meal 
with  milk  and  bread;  on  the  table  lay  a  big  cheese,  from 
which  I  was  permitted  to  cut  a  little  piece  for  myself. 
After  half  an  hour  had  passed,  some  one  knocked  at  the 
window.  This  was  my  master,  who  though  somewhat 
far  gone  in  liquor,  was  glad  to  catch  up  with  me  here. 
I  was  immediately  ordered  to  get  up  on  the  saddle 
behind  him,  and  in  this  fashion  he  galloped  with  me  to 
his  plantation.  As  we  pulled  up  in  front  of  his  house, 
there  appeared  promptly  a  boy  who  took  the  horse 
from  him  and  led  it  to  a  stall.  I  entered  the  living  room 
with  him,  where  his  wife  and  children  were  sitting  in 
front  of  a  big  fireplace.  They  have  no  stoves  in  this 
part  of  America,  but  content  themselves  with  great 
open  fires  in  chimneyplaces,  over  which  are  suspended 
big  iron  kettles.  In  these  they  cook  their  food,  throw 
ing  in  great  pieces  of  beef,  sometimes  weighing  six  and 
eight  pounds.  In  another  kettle  they  cook  in  this 
fashion  entire  heads  of  cabbage  and  whole  turnips,  and 
later  bring  them  to  the  table,  where  each  may  take  from 
any  of  the  kinds  of  food  whatever  he  desires.  Also 
each  one  is  invited  to  take  as  much  as  he  wishes  from 
an  enormous  cheese,  often  weighing  as  much  as  thirty 
pounds.  At  breakfast  and  supper  they  eat  usually  a 
mush  made  of  Turkish  wheat  meal  which  is  also  cooked 
in  a  kettle  suspended  in  the  fireplace.  Each  receives 
with  this  a  little  bowl  of  milk,  and  there  is  always  a 
great  piece  of  meat  or  the  cheese  on  the  table,  of  which 
one  may  eat  to  his  satisfaction.  I  drank  only  a  little 
water,  but  a  good  deal  of  cider  or  apple  wine.  Each 
plantation  has  on  it  an  orchard  that  sometimes  requires 
half  an  hour  to  walk  around,  and  that  bears  an  immense 

29 


amount  of  fruit,  a  part  of  which  is  used  to  make  this 
delicious,  healthful  apple  wine.  In  these  orchards  the 
trees  are  usually  planted  twenty  steps  apart  and  grow 
magnificently.  In  the  open  spaces  between  the  fruit 
trees,  they  grow  all  kinds  of  grain,  that  flourishes  just  as 
well  as  if  the  trees  were  not  there.  It  is  unbelievable 
what  profits  the  growing  of  fruit  trees  brings  in  America. 
And  when  I  see  here  in  our  own  country  large  gardens 
and  wide  pastures  without  even  a  single  fruit  tree,  I 
always  regret  that  fruit  culture  is  not  more  carefully 
followed.  The  farmers  here  who  generally  have  plenty 
of  land  could  do  a  great  deal  for  the  improvement  of 
their  farms  if  they  would  devote  even  half  an  acre  to  the 
growing  of  fruit  trees.  I  know  a  very  sensible  farmer 
who,  from  a  comparatively  small  piece  of  land  on  which 
twenty  years  ago  he  planted  fruit  trees  that  demand 
no  care,  now  receives  the  amount  of  his  taxes  and  all  the 
fruit  that  he  can  use  for  himself  from  this  orchard. 
The  objection  that  if  each  farmer  owned  his  own  or 
chard,  the  fruit  would  not  sell  so  advantageously  as 
at  the  present  time,  is  valid.  Of  course  this  cannot  be 
denied;  but  notwithstanding,  fruit  growing  will  become 
sometime  a  very  important  and  most  useful  part  of  the 
farming  industry,  if  it  is  managed  properly.  Fruit  is 
not  only  a  pleasant  and  healthful  food  when  cooked,  but 
it  also  sells  well  as  the  base  of  the  manufacture  of  good 
wine,  vinegar,  syrup  and  brandy;  and  besides  the  cut 
tings  can  be  used  for  feeding  cattle.  And  that  the 
ground  around  the  trees  can  be  utilized  for  the  growing 
of  other  products,  I  have  seen  proved  in  America. 

During  the  harvests,  the  owners  of  neighboring  plan 
tations  assist  each  other  in  cutting  the  grain,  so  that 
usually  in  a  single  day  an  entire  crop  of  some  sort  is 
gathered.  After  the  grain  is  cut  it  is  bound  immediately 
into  little  bundles  and  stacked  up  in  shocks  just  as  is 

30 


done  with  hemp  in  our  country.  There  they  leave  it 
until  it  dries.  Even  in  rainy  weather  I  never  saw  the 
grain  sprout  because  it  is  so  placed  in  these  shocks  that 
the  heads  are  exposed  to  the  air.  After  the  harvesters 
are  through  with  the  gathering  of  the  grain  they  eat  and 
drink  mightily,  and  after  that  have  dances. 

Before  I  begin  to  relate  my  own  affairs  and  the  duties 
of  my  service  and  what  happened  to  me  during  this 
time,  I  would  like  to  make  a  few  observations  about  the 
provinces  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  so  that  the 
reader  can  have  some  idea  about  the  places  where  I 
spent  the  first  years  of  my  sojourn  in  America.  Penn 
sylvania,  which  was  named  by  the  Englishman,  William 
Penn,  who  with  a  few  of  his  sect  made  a  settlement  in 
its  forests,  is  a  great  stietch  of  land  larger  than  one  half 
the  Prussian  empire  and  in  about  the  same  latitude  as 
Spain.  But  the  climate  is  similar  to  that  of  our  coun 
try,  because  the  land  is  not  entirely  under  cultivation; 
but  it  is  gradually  growing  warmer  as  the  clearing  of  1he 
forests  and  the  cultivation  of  the  fields  progress.  This 
province  is  drained  by  three  big  rivers,  the  Delaware, 
on  which  is  situated  the  capital,  Philadelphia;  the 
Susquehanna,  and  the  Ohio.  It  produces  a  quantity  of 
grain,  flax,  hemp,  and  wax  and  breeds  cattle  extensively. 
Thei  e  are  large  oak  and  nut  forests.  The  nuts  are  not 
so  large  as  our  walnuts  and  have  a  thinner  shell,  so  that 
they  can  be  cracked  easily  with  strong  teeth.  There  is 
also  a  stony  kind  of  nut.  This  serves  as  food  for  the 
pigs  that  are  running  wild  in  the  forests.  These  pigs, 
after  being  marked  on  the  ears,  are  allowed  to  run  wild 
in  the  summer  time  and  in  the  fall  are  captured  again. 
Each  proprietor  can  recognize  his  own  stock  from  the 
brand  on  their  ears.  Vines  grow  wild  here  and  climb 
up  the  trees;  especially  the  sassafras,  which  grows  in 
great  abundance. 

31 


The  province  of  New  Jersey  is  much  smaller  than 
Pennsylvania,  but  is  still  larger  than  the  kingdom  of 
Saxony  at  present.  This  province  also  is  under  very 
good  cultivation.  They  grow  here  much  grain,  flax, 
fruits,  and  potatoes.  They  have  many  cattle,  and  tim 
ber  is  in  abundance.  Among  the  different  kinds  of 
wood  the  cedar  especially  drew  my  attention.  These 
cedars  are  over  a  hundred  feet  high;  they  grow  only 
from  the  tops,  where  spring  the  new  branches,  looking 
in  shape  and  size  like  great  brooms  on  which  are  hanging 
red  berries.  These  trees  stand  so  close  to  each  other 
that  it  is  very  hard  to  pass  between  them.  The  timber 
is  beautiful  and  so  very  light  that  it  is  possible  to  carry 
on  one's  shoulder  a  log  ten  yards  long  and  half  a  yard  in 
circumference.  This  wood  is  used  for  building  pur 
poses  and  for  the  manufacture  of  shingles,  with  which 
most  of  the  houses  in  this  province  are  covered.  Both 
provinces,  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  have  a  very 
mild  and  pleasant  climate.  The  work  that  I  had  to 
perform  on  the  New  Jersey  plantation  near  the  Penn 
sylvania  border,  was  as  follows:  I  had  to  get  up  at  day 
break,  and  carry  a  great  log  of  wood  four  to  five  feet 
long  to  the  fireplace,  which  measured  six  feet.  Then 
I  placed  small  split  wood  under  the  log  and  kindled  a 
flame  by  means  of  which  the  log  was  ignited.  Soon  the 
room  was  warm.  Later  I  proceeded  to  feed  the  cattle, 
consisting  of  ten  to  fifteen  head  of  horses,  fifty  to  sixty 
cows  and  oxen,  and  more  than  a  hundred  hogs.  The 
latter  were  mostly  fattened  on  Turkish  wheat.  After 
they  were  sufficiently  heavy,  they  were  slaughtered, 
sometimes  ten  in  one  day.  After  being  stuck,  they 
were  allowed  to  run  about  the  yard  until  they  were 
fully  bled  and  fell  dead.  After  a  number  had  been 
slaughtered  in  this  way,  the  carcasses  were  scalded, 
hung  up  and  the  intestines  removed  and  buried.  Sau- 

32 


sages  were  not  made.  On  the  following  day,  we  took 
the  dressed  hogs  to  Philadelphia,  where  we  sold  them  to 
the  meat  dealers,  who  salt  the  meat  and  send  shiploads 
of  pork  and  flour  to  the  West  Indian  islands,  receiving 
in  exchange  West  Indian  products  such  as  coffee,  sugar 
and  indigo.  The  horned  cattle  remain  in  summer  and 
winter  in  the  fields  and  pastures.  In  the  winter  I  often 
had  to  go  for  half  an  hour  in  the  deep  snow  to  feed  the 
cattle.  Here  and  there  were  to  be  found  immense  hay 
stacks  around  which  high  fences  were  built  against 
which  leaned  a  ladder  that  I  had  to  ascend  in  order  to 
cut  the  fodder  with  my  long  curved  knife.  I  took  from 
the  haystacks  each  time  only  as  much  as  I  needed  to  feed 
at  that  time,  throwing  it  over  the  fence  to  the  beasts  that 
were  waiting  outside.  If  a  cow  was  with  calf  she  was 
driven  home  with  the  other  cows  that  were  to  be  milked. 
All  the  milk  was  put  into  big  copper  kettles;  and  the 
butter  and  cheese  made  from  it  were  sold.  In  the  out 
house  of  the  home  of  my  master  was  a  cheese  press 
which  always  contained  two  big  cheeses  of  thirty  to 
forty  pounds  each  in  a  cylinder  which  was  perforated 
with  holes  and  had  two  iron  clamps.  After  the  cattle 
were  fed,  I  went  to  breakfast,  to  which  we  were  called 
about  eight  o'clock  by  the  blowing  of  a  big  conch.  Each 
of  the  servants  received  a  can  of  milk,  mush  of  Turkish 
wheat  flour  and  a  piece  of  salted  veal.  At  noon  we  had 
warm  meat  with  whole  turnips  or  cabbage  heads,  of 
which  each  could  eat  as  much  as  he  chose;  or  we  had 
peas,  lentils  or  other  vegetables.  The  supper  was  like 
the  breakfast.  When  I  was  not  occupied  with  the  cat 
tle,  I  had  to  do  other  kinds  of  work.  Principally  I  had 
to  plow  the  fields  to  make  the  uncultivated  land  arable. 
My  master  was  a  Quaker  and  on  Sundays  I  frequently 
attended  the  religious  meetings  of  the  Quakers  with  him 
and  his  family.  This  Christian  religious  sect  originated 

33 


in  the  seventeenth  century  in  England,  deriving  its 
name  from  "to  quake,"  which  means  to  tremble,  and 
has  many  members  at  present  in  America.  The 
Quakers  or  Tremblers  have  no  pastors;  but  the  old  and 
experienced  of  both  sexes  deliver  lectures  during  their 
religious  meetings,  when  they  feel  incited  by  inner 
promptings  of  the  soul.  In  their  meeting-houses  they 
never  sing,  but  pray  silently  until  an  old  man  or  woman, 
led  by  the  spirit,  rises  and  delivers  a  sermon  on  some 
passage  of  the  Old  Testament.  These  declamations 
are  often  very  pathetic  and  are  listened  to  reverently, 
since  Quakers  in  theii  places  of  worship  are  generally 
very  devout.  After  the  services,  having  been  without 
any  ceremonies  and  lasting  two  hours,  are  finished,  the 
men  and  the  women  shake  hands  and  leave  the  place  of 
assembly.  The  Quakers  here,  men  and  women,  ride  on 
horseback  to  their  meeting-house,  tie  the  horses  in  front 
of  the  church,  which  is  situated  in  a  little  forest,  and 
after  their  common  worship  of  God  return  immediately 
to  their  homes.  I  had  a  horse  at  my  disposal  each 
Sunday  in  order  to  reach  the  church.  Besides  other 
distinguishing  marks  of  the  Quakers,  it  must  be  re 
membered  that  they  call  every  one  "thou,"  that  they 
never  remove  their  hats,  not  even  in  the  presence  of  the 
king,  and  that  they,  according  to  Matthew  5:35-37, 
never  take  an  oath.  They  ought  not  to  swear,  either, 
but  my  master,  who  was  a  very  violent  man  and  spoke 
a  little  German,  swore  not  infrequently,  especially  when 
he  was  drunk.  Only  too  often,  if  he  were  not  satisfied 
with  his  servants,  did  he  utter  the  resounding  and  ter 
rible  English  curse:  "God  damn  your  soul!"  Although 
I  wanted  for  nothing  in  the  employ  of  my  master,  as  can 
be  seen  by  my  narrative,  I  still  longed  for  freedom  and 
for  my  fatherland.  One  Sunday  I  received  pel  mission 
to  visit  the  Protestant  church  in  Philadelphia.  There 

34 


I  met  a  group  of  German  servants  who  were  having  a 
very  bad  time  at  the  hands  of  their  masters.  They 
tried  to  persuade  me  to  run  away  with  them  to  find  a 
European  boat  that  would  take  us  back  to  Europe. 
At  first  I  hesitated  at  carrying  out  the  plans  they  had 
confided  to  me,  but  finally  I  promised  to  participate  in 
the  undertaking.  To  this  conclusion  I  was  brought 
mainly  by  a  negress  who  encountered  us  by  chance  and 
who  offered  to  read  my  future  life  in  the  lines  of  my 
palm.  I  held  my  hand  out  to  her,  and  learned  from  the 
black  woman  that  I  should  be  a  soldier  and  should  be 
wounded.  Not  to  hear  more  of  what  lay  in  store  for  me, 
I  tore  my  hand  away  from  the  fortune-teller,  and  de 
cided  on  the  spot  to  escape  the  fate  of  the  prophecy  by 
flight  and  the  longed-for  return  to  Europe.  I  conferred 
with  my  companions  as  to  the  time  chosen  for  running 
away,  and  went  home.  At  the  appointed 'day  I  left  my 
master,  just  as  they  did  and  met  them  by  moonlight  at 
the  place  we  had  agreed  upon.  Immediately  we  started 
on  our  way;  but  after  a  march  of  about  two  hours  we 
came  to  a  river  that  was  so  wide  and  deep  that  we  could 
not  ford  it.  Thereupon  we  walked  along  the  river  bank, 
hoping  to  find  a  skiff.  We  actually  did  find  boats  tied 
near  a  plantation  and  unloosing  them,  we  crossed  the 
river.  We  were  very  glad  to  have  the  river  behind  us, 
and  went  on  as  fast  as  we  could.  At  daybreak  we  lay 
down  m  a  forest  and  now  sleeping  and  now  awake, 
awaited  the  fall  of  night  in  which  we  could  continue  our 
journey.  We  satisfied  our  hunger  with  food  found  here 
and  there  in  the  fields,  and  which  we  cooked  in  the  mid 
dle  of  the  forest.  In  this  manner,  we  had  travelled 
about  three  hundred  English  miles,  and  had  just  ar 
rived  in  the  province  of  Virginia,  when  we  were  dis 
covered  by  bloodhounds,  captured,  and  immediately 
put  under  custody.  Our  masters  had  advertised  our 

35 


flight  in  the  newspapers,  and  had  offered  considerable 
rewards  for  our  recovery. 

For  my  capture  a  reward  of  five  pounds  (more  than 
thirty  dollars)  was  offered.  Those  who  found  us  im 
mediately  informed  our  masters  of  our  arrest,  but  three 
weeks  elapsed  before  instructions  for  our  return  arrived. 
During  this  time  we  had  to  sit  in  the  prison.  One 
morning  I  was  summoned  and  immediately  led  to  an 
other  house  where  some  gentlemen  were  convened. 
One  of  them  approached  me  and  asked  if  I  would  like  to 
return  to  New  Jersey  to  my  master.  He  said  he  had 
orders  to  pay  everything,  and  to  bring  me  back  to  him 
again. 

I  was  glad  that  my  master  desired  to  have  me  return, 
because  I  did  not  like  it  in  Virginia,  where  the  servants 
had  to  work  with  negroes,  and  had  only  two  meals  a 
day.  I  would  doubtless  have  been  sold  to  a  Virginia 
plantation  owner,  had  I  refused  to  go  back  to  New 
Jersey.  But  under  the  circumstances  this  never  en 
tered  my  head  and  I  promised  immediately  to  accom 
pany  the  emissary  of  my  master.  He,  a  ship's  captain, 
paid  my  expenses  and  I  followed  him  to  his  vessel  lying 
in  the  Potomac  River.  With  a  favoring  wind  we  set 
sail.  We  came  to  Chesapeake  Bay  and  thence  through 
Delaware  Bay  to  Philadelphia,  where  my  master  was 
waiting  for  me.  I  was  afraid  he  would  afflict  me  with  a 
load  of  curses ;  but  he  received  me  very  kindly,  and  told 
me  that  he  knew  I  was  persuaded  by  the  others  to  run 
away,  but  that  I  should  not  have  yielded  to  the  temp 
tations  of  these  companions,  but  should  have  waited 
until  my  term  of  service  had  expired ;  that  later  he  would 
have  given  me  a  certificate  of  freedom  which  would  have 
opened  for  me  the  doors  of  all  America.  After  I  had 
promised  him  that  I  would  never  run  away  again,  and 
would  serve  him  sincerely  in  the  future,  he  ordered  me 

36 


to  mount  behind  him  and  we  arrived  home  astride  the 
same  horse's  back.  Here  I  had  a  very  friendly  re 
ception  from  the  wife  and  the  daughters  of  my  master; 
they  seemed  confident  that  I  had  not  run  away  because 
of  ill  treatment  on  their  part,  but  had  yielded  to  the 
persuasion  of  my  partners  in  wrong-doing.  After 
serving  my  master  two  years  longer,  diligently  and 
honorably,  and  not  being  badly  treated  by  him,  I 
brought  upon  myself  quite  innocently  his  ill  will.  One 
morning  I  was  plowing  a  piece  of  unbroken  land  with 
another  servant,  a  Swiss  boy  of  about  fourteen  years, 
who  was  driving  the  oxen  for  me.  I  had  the  misfortune 
to  run  the  plow  against  a  large  root  of  a  tree,  breaking 
the  implement,  which  was  a  new  one.  We  placed  the 
broken  plow  on  a  wagon  and  drove  home.  My  master 
who  had  observed  from  a  distance  what  had  happened 
to  the  new  plow,  met  me  with  the  frightful  curse: 
"God  damn  your  soul  and  your  brain!,"  ordered  me  to 
unyoke  the  oxen,  and  to  come  to  breakfast. 

When  we  were  seated  ar  the  table,  my  master  began 
to  curse  again,  and  looked  at  me  with  angry  eyes.  His 
gestures  and  his  curses,  which  I  fully  understood,  since 
I  had  learned  the  English  language  fairly  well  during 
my  three  years'  stay  in  America,  seemed  to  me  ridicu 
lous,  and  I  could  not  keep  from  showing  amusement  at 
his  expressions  of  rage.  No  sooner  did  my  master  be 
come  aware  of  this  than  he  gave  me  such  a  box  on  the 
ear  that  the  blood  sprang  from  my  nose  and  mouth  as 
if  from  a  fountain.  Instantly  I  sprang  up  from  the 
table  to  the  door,  and  said  that  I  would  go  immediately 
to  the  judge  and  complain  of  him,  knowing  well  that  the 
loss  he  had  suffered  did  not  permit  such  treatment  of 
servants.  I  had  hardly  finished  saying  this  when  my 
master  leaped  from  his  seat  and  made  an  attempt  to 
catch  hold  of  me.  I  succeeded  in  escaping,  but  turning 

37 


around  after  a  few  steps,  I  saw  that  he  had  a  gun  in  his 
hands  and  was  aiming  at  me;  bul  his  wife  and  the  chil 
dren  seized  him  to  prevent  his  committing  a  crime.  A 
few  leaps  took  me  beyond  the  range  of  his  rifle  and  into 
the  security  of  the  forest.  As  soon  as  I  knew  myself 
to  be  in  safety,  I  hurried  to  a  German  cooper  who  was 
living  about  a  mile  from  the  plantation  of  my  master. 
To  him  I  related  what  had  happened,  and  asked  him  to 
show  me  the  way  to  the  judge,  which  he  accordingly  did. 
I  had  to  tell  the  judge,  whom  I  approached  with  a 
bloody  and  swollen  face,  all  that  had  occurred  in 
detail.  Having  done  so,  I  expressed  the  desire  to  be 
sold  to  another  planter  as  I  could  no  longer  repose  con 
fidence  in  or  feel  affection  for  my  old  master. 

Thereupon  the  judge  took  a  seat  at  his  writing  desk 
and  wrote  a  letter  to  my  master;  sealed  it  and  gave  it  to 
me  with  the  order  that  I  should  go  home  again  and 
deliver  the  letter  in  person.  And  he  assured  me  that 
my  master  would  never  again  raise  his  hand  against  me. 
It  was  Saturday  and  very  late  when  I  came  home.  My 
master,  who  had  ridden  in  pursuit  of  me,  came  home 
after  midnight  and  on  his  arrival  asked  the  young  Swiss, 
who  looked  after  his  horse,  if  I  had  come  back.  Upon 
this  question  being  answered  in  the  affirmative,  he 
retired.  I  knew  by  his  voice  that  he  was  intoxicated. 
On  the  following  day  after  I  had  fed  the  cattle  and  had 
entered  the  house,  my  master,  who  was  sitting  near  the 
fireplace,  asked  me  to  shave  him.  He  also  asked  me 
very  gravely  if  he  could  trust  himself  to  me.  I  replied 
that  he  must  not  be  afraid,  as  I  had  never  in  my  life 
done  evil  to  any  one,  and  he  would  be  the  last  person 
that  I  would  want  to  harm.  I  shaved  him,  and  when 
I  had  finished,  I  handed  him  the  letter  of  the  judge. 
After  he  had  read  it  through,  he  was  terribly  angry, 
swore  terrifically  and  went  into  another  room;  but  came 

38 


back  soon  with  a  threat  that  he  would  provide  me  with 
another  master  who  would  let  me  know  what  a  servant 
was  much  better  than  he  had  done;  and  gave  me  the 
order  to  saddle  his  horse  and  bring  it  around.  After  I 
had  carried  out  his  orders,  he  galloped  away  and  did  not 
come  home  until  long  after  midnight,  very  drunk.  On 
the  following  morning  I  arose  as  usual  very  early  and  fed 
the  cattle.  After  I  came  to  breakfast,  he  asked  me  if  I 
wished  to  remain  in  his  service.  I  gave  a  negative 
answer,  and  expressed  the  wish  to  be  sold  to  another 
master.  He  then  said  that  I  would  often  think  of  him 
when  I  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  a  man  worse  than 
he.  After  a  while  a  gentleman  arrived  on  horseback, 
and  a  boy  with  a  yoke  of  oxen  followed  him.  I  knew 
instantly  that  the  stranger  was  to  be  my  future  master 
and  the  oxen  were  the  price  for  my  person.  And  as  a 
matter  of  fact,  I  was  given  over  to  the  stranger  in  ex 
change  for  the  pair  of  oxen. 

Little  did  those  who  hung  in  solicitude  over  my 
cradle  dream  of  the  fate  that  awaited  me  on  the  other 
side  of  the  Atlantic!  But  I  could  not  remonstrate 
against  the  trading  of  the  two  gentlemen. 

My  new  master  was  proprietor  of  an  inn  situated 
about  a  mile  from  the  plantation  of  the  gentleman  I  had 
served  until  now.  He  also  was  a  lieutenant  of  the 
militia.  His  name  was  Abraham  Eldrige.  After  I  had 
thanked  my  former  master  for  all  the  good  that  I  had 
enjoyed  at  his  hands,  I  followed  my  new  keeper  to  his 
home.  According  to  the  prophecy  of  my  former  master, 
I  was  to  have  a  much  worse  time  here  than  with  him; 
but  I  had  every  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  my  present 
situation.  Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  my  master 
was  a  very  violent-tempered  man,  he  was  not  a  victim 
of  the  disgraceful  drinking  habit  as  was  the  man  I  first 
served.  I  filled  the  position  of  a  porter  in  his  inn,  a 

39 


sort  of  roadhouse  on  the  way  to  Philadelphia.  This 
position,  which  was  not  a  congenial  one  to  me,  was 
nevertheless  at  this  time  particularly  remunerative. 
For  the  North  American  struggle  for  independence  had 
broken  out,  and  troops  of  soldiers  and  their  officers 
travelled  along  this  highway.  The  latter  gave  me  for 
the  care  of  their  horses,  sometimes  small,  sometimes 
large  sums  of  money,  sometimes  as  much  as  a  dollar,  and 
in  a  short  time  I  was  able  to  save  a  rather  respectable 
amount  of  money. 

At  that  time  there  was  current  in  Pennsylvania  a 
good  deal  of  paper  money.  Each  piece  bore  on  one 
side  the  name  of  the  United  States  and  the  value  of  the 
bill;  on  the  other  the  notice  that  the  penalty  for  counter 
feiting  this  bill  was  loss  of  life.  Also  there  were  whole 
and  half  coins  of  Spanish  silver  money,  which  were  often 
chopped  into  four  and  sometimes  into  eight  pieces. 
These  pieces  were  used  as  change  and  business  currency. 
It  is  well  known  that  with  the  English  army  which 
fought  the  American  insurgents  there  were  connected 
Hessian  auxiliary  troops,  many  of  whom  deserted. 
From  these  deserters  I  gained  much  information  as  to 
how  far  away  the  English  and  Hessian  forces  were  from 
the  place  where  I  was  staying,  and  how  great  were  their 
numbers.  I  learned  this  with  the  end  in  view,  if  the 
occasion  arose,  to  join  the  army  and  to  return  with  it, 
after  the  war  was  over,  to  my  fatherland,  for  which  I 
grew  constantly  more  homesick. 

But  when  I  considered  the  danger  which  threatened 
me  should  I  be  captured  by  the  Americans  after  I  had 
gone  over  to  the  English  and  the  Hessians,  I  gave  up 
each  time  my  secretly  cherished  plans,  and  decided  at 
least  to  wait  a  little  longer  before  trying  to  realize  my 
desires. 

About  this  time,  I  received  on  request,  permission 

40 


from  my  master  to  go  to  Philadelphia  to  attend  the 
Lutheran  church.  At  this  period  in  Philadelphia, 
Major  von  Ortendorff,  who  had  fought  in  the  armies  of 
Frederick  the  Great  during  the  Seven  Years'  War  in 
Germany,  was  forming  under  the  direction  of  the 
commander-in-chief  of  the  American  army,  a  corps  of 
volunteers.  Moreover  in  his  proclamation,  which  was 
sanctioned  by  the  United  States,  German  servants  were 
invited  to  join  the  corps,  but  on  the  condition  that  these 
servants  should  make  an  agreement  with  their  masters 
that  these  masters  should  receive  during  their  servants' 
term  of  service  a  part  of  the  pay.  The  United  States 
promised  the  German  servants  who  were  willing  to  bear 
arms  in  the  cause  of  the  liberation  of  America,  thirteen 
acres  of  government  land  free  of  charge,  to  be  taken 
possession  of  as  soon  as  peace  was  declared. 

I  was  persuaded  to  enter  this  volunteer  corps,  and 
although  I  was  less  concerned  about  the  freedom  of 
North  America  than  about  my  own,  and  though  I 
longed  for  my  fatherland,  still  when  I  saw  the  great 
enthusiasm  for  the  cause  of  freedom  manifested  in 
Philadelphia,  I  straightway  forgot  Germany  and  the 
plans  for  my  own  freedom,  took  service  in  Major 
OrtendorfFs  corps  and  received  my  twenty  dollars 
earnest  money.  While  I  remained  in  Philadelphia,  one 
of  the  men  of  the  corps  was  sent  with  a  letter  to  my 
master  requesting  him  to  come  to  headquarters  in  order 
to  make  arrangements  with  the  commander  of  the  corps 
for  my  enlistment.  My  master,  who,  as  I  have  men 
tioned  before,  was  a  lieutenant  of  the  militia,  was  very 
happy  on  the  following  day  when  he  saw  me  in  the  blue 
uniform  with  the  green  collar  and  cuffs,  and  wished  me 
good  luck  in  my  new  profession.  However,  he  demand 
ed  that  I  pay  him  every  month  for  twenty  months  one 
pound  sterling  out  of  my  wages,  and  although  I  ap- 

41 


preciated  that  he  was  asking  far  too  much,  I  consented. 
As  the  corps  of  Ortendorff  had  reached  the  number  of 
three  hundred,  we  marched  to  join  the  great  North 
American  army  which  was  under  the  command  of 
General  Washington.  The  service  of  this  corps  was 
very  hard.  As  we  received  no  tents,  we  were  obliged  to 
build  huts  for  ourselves  out  of  boughs.  We  had  to 
serve  as  outposts  for  the  main  army,  and  were  obliged  to 
patrol  all  night  long.  We  also  had  to  forage  for  cattle 
to  be  slaughtered  for  the  use  of  the  soldiers.  As  a  rule 
we  took  the  cattle  from  the  planters  who  remained 
loyal  to  the  king.  Although  the  United  States  were 
trying  as  hard  as  they  could  to  free  themselves  from 
English  rule,  yet  there  were  a  few  that  did  not  favor  the 
insurrection,  and  worked  against  the  cause  of  liberty 
partly  because  they  were  born  Englishmen,  and  paitly 
on  grounds  of  conscience.  But  they  suffered  often  very 
keenly  for  their  loyalty  to  the  English  government.  To 
discover  their  attitude  in  this  matter,  usually  six  men 
went  into  the  houses,  pretended  to  be  Hessians  and 
asked  questions  about  Washington's  army:  how  strong 
it  was,  where  it  was  located  at  the  present  time,  and 
such  details.  If  these  people  seemed  to  be  glad  to  see 
us,  and  gave  us  information  about  the  North  American 
army,  soon  the  entire  detachment  entered  and  took 
possession  of  the  plantation,  drove  away  the  cattle  and 
often  stripped  the  house.  The  duped  people  then  sin 
cerely  regretted  their  frankness,  gazed  with  tears  in 
their  eyes  after  their  cattle  that  we  were  driving  away, 
and  seeing  the  "U.  S."  on  our  powder  pouches,  realized 
too  late  that  we  were  soldiers  of  the  United  States. 
Such  matters  occupied  almost  every  night.  The 
English, ' who  very  soon  received  word  of  our  doings, 
never  forgave  us.  After  I  had  served  about  six  months 
in  the  corps  of  Ortendorff,  I  with  six  other  men  decided 

42 


to  desert  to  the  English  and  Hessians,  whose  tents  we 
could  see  in  daytime  not  far  from  our  camp.  It  was  a 
dark,  desolate  night  when  we  stole  out  of  our  bivouac; 
but  we  had  gone  only  about  fifty  steps  into  the  forest 
when  a  picket  whom  we  were  not  expecting  to  find  at 
this  place  called  out:  "Who  goes?"  and  as  we  did  not 
answer,  fired  immediately.  Instantly  we  scattered  in 
all  directions  and  I  decided  to  return  as  fast  as  I  could 
to  the  camp,  where  I  arrived  before  the  commotion 
caused  by  the  firing  of  the  gun  had  become  general.  I 
joined  in  the  alarm,  but  my  anxiety  knew  no  bounds, 
for  I  realized  that  if  any  of  the  deserters  were  captured 
and  saw  fit  to  betray  me,  the  limb  of  a  tree  would  fur 
nish  my  punishment. 

We  had  to  answer  roll-call  immediately,  and  I  was 
mighty  glad  that  the  six  deserters  were  still  missing  and 
that  the  patrols  sent  out  to  search  could  not  find  them. 
A  few  days  after  this  unsuccessful  attempt  to  desert 
to  the  combined  armies,  we  received  orders  to  break 
camp.  At  daybreak  we  reached  a  mountain  which  was 
occupied  by  some  thousand  regular  soldiers  of  the 
North  American  troops,  who  had  with  them  a  few 
cannon.  Here  we  had  command  of  the  road  that  led 
around  the  mountain,  which  we  saw  covered  with  a 
multitude  of  soldiers,  and  the  newly  risen  sun  glittered 
on  thousands  of  bayonets.  This  was  a  regiment  of  the 
English  army  with  a  vanguard  formed  of  Hessian 
grenadiers.  As  soon  as  they  came  within  range  we 
fired  our  cannon  at  them.  All  at  once,  the  endless 
marching  line  stood  still,  separated  into  divisions  and, 
then  disregarding  our  fire,  charged  down  the  mountain 
with  fixed  bayonets.  When  we  saw  that  we  were 
outnumbered  and  that  resistance  was  hopeless,  we 
abandoned  our  cannon  and  baggage  and  fled  down  the 
other  side  of  the  mountain.  Many  threw  away  their 

43 


rifles  and  knapsacks,  and  ran  like  hares  into  the  forest. 
I  fell  into  a  ditch  and  my  comrades,  leaving  me  there 
for  dead,  jumped  over  me.  As  the  cannon  balls  and 
rifle  bullets  were  falling  all  around  me,  and  I  was 
afraid  of  being  run  through  by  the  enemy  that  were 
pursuing  us,  I  crawled  on  my  hands  and  knees  to  some 
thick  undergrowth  nearby,  and  lay  there  until  I  could 
no  longer  hear  any  firing.  After  this  I  arose  and  went 
up  to  the  place  on  the  mountain  where  the  skirmish  had 
started.  Here  I  found  the  Hessian  grenadiers  in 
possession  of  the  camp.  When  I  was  still  twenty  feet 
distant  from  them,  the  Colonel  called  to  a  petty  officer: 
"There  comes  a  rebel!"  The  petty  officer  approached 
me  and  led  me  to  the  Colonel,  who  addressed  me  with 
stern  and  threatening  words:  "Well,  you  urchin,  where 
do  you  come  from?  You  were  not  able  to  make  your 
escape, 'were  you?"  I  answered  that  I  had  for  a  long 
time  cherished  the  wish  to  be  associated  with  my 
countrymen,  and  then  I  told  him  briefly  all  that  had 
happened  to  me  since  my  arrival  in  America.  My 
story  made  a  favorable  impression  on  the  Colonel  and 
he  ordered  one  of  his  orderlies  to  give  me  a  glass  of  rum 
and  some  bread.  At  the  same  time  he  ordered  me  to 
remain  in  his  batallion  until  it  should  go  into  winter 
quarters;  also  he  promised  that  later  on  he  would  make 
some  provision  for  my  future. 

After  the  troops  had  rested  for  a  few  hours,  they 
again  took  up  their  march.  But  we  had  not  marched 
longer  than  an  hour  when  we  met  the  entire  corps  of 
OrtendorfFs  men  being  led  along  under  arrest,  captured 
by  an  English  company.  I  recognized  among  the 
prisoners  my  own  comrades  and  I  called  to  them: 
"See!  Had  you  followed  my  example  you  also  could 
have  been  at  liberty  now!" 

This  exclamation  of  mine  was  not  the  result  of  reflec- 

44 


tion  and  it  might  easily  be  fatal  for  me  in  the  future. 
And  even  if  this  indiscretion  did  not  bring  me  misfor 
tune  in  this  particular  case,  I  would  advise  all  persons 
to  keep  in  mind  the  changeable  fortunes  of  war,  and 
to  be  more  cautious  and  thoughtful  that  I  showed  my 
self  to  be  on  that  occasion. 

An  hour  before  sunset  we  arrived  at  the  camp  of  the 
main  division  of  the  English  army.  I  was  led  promptly 
to  the  tent  of  Lord  Cornwallis,  who  put  many  questions 
to  me,  but  especially  how  strong  the  rebels  were,  where 
Washington  was  camped,  how  defensible  the  fortifica 
tions  were,  and  how  well  they  were  manned.  After  I 
had  given  information  on  all  these  points,  I  had  to 
swear  allegiance  to  King  George  the  Third,  I  received 
a  rifle,  and  was  enrolled  in  the  grenadier  battalion  of 
the  Knipphausen  regiment.  Now  we  marched  toward 
Staten  Island,  laying  opposite  New  York,  where  we 
remained  in  camp  a  few  weeks.  Then  we  passed  over 
the  North  River  towards  the  city  of  New  York.  We 
were  unable  to  enter  the  city,  but  we  dug  caves  in  the 
ground  and  covered  them  with  sod  in  which  we  had  to 
pass  the  winter.  But  the  English  obtained  quarters 
in  the  city.  Not  only  were  the  Hessian  soldiers  dis 
criminated  against  in  this  way,  but  they  were  obliged 
daily  to  do  hard  labor,  throwing  up  earthworks  about 
Fort  Washington,  a  fortified  place  three  miles  above  the 
city  on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  We  also  had  to 
stand  a  very  dangerous  watch  on  an  island  in  the  river. 

A  narrow  dam  which  led  to  this  island,  on  which  was 
a  fortification  called  Paulus  Haak,  was  the  main  outpost 
of  our  army. 

New  York,  which  is  situated  north  of  Philadelphia,  is 
the  capital  of  the  State  of  New  York.  This  state  is 
larger  than  the  German  kingdoms  of  Bavaria,  Saxonia 
and  Wirtemberg  together.  During  the  Seven  Years' 

45 


War,  it  suffered  severely  from  conflagration.  The 
port  of  this  city  is  situated  nearer  the  sea  than  the  one 
at  Philadelphia,  and  therefore  commerce  and  navigation 
are  more  highly  developed  here  than  in  the  latter  place. 
In  the  suburbs,  there  is  only  one  spring  that  has  sweet 
water;  all  the  others  are  brackish,  even  containing 
particles  of  salt.  Along  the  water  front  by  the  docks 
were  many  taverns,  where  dwelt  the  priestesses  of  the 
heathen  goddess  Venus.  It  would  be  very  unfitting  to 
call  this  region  "holy  ground. "  Directly  opposite  the 
landing  place  is  a  lighthouse  whose  rays  can  be  seen  at 
night  very  far  out  on  the  sea.  Not  far  from  the  city, 
in  the  middle  of  the  Hudson  there  is  an  eddy  called 
Hellgate.  Ships  passing  this  place  had  to  be  very 
careful  not  to  come  too  near  lest  they  be  drawn  in  and 
hurled  to  destruction.  I  listened  with  horror  to  the 
roaring  of  Hellgate  when  I  had  to  go  by  it.  After  we 
had  camped  one  or  two  months  near  New  York,  we 
received  orders  to  be  prepared  to  take  ship.  It  was 
the  nineteenth  of  December  when  we  boarded  the 
vessel  called  'The  Two  Sisters."  As  our  regiment 
consisted  of  about  eight  hundred  men  besides  the  fifty 
seamen,  we  had  to  live  in  rather  close  quarters. 

The  entire  fleet  that  left  New  York  at  this  time 
amounted  to  almost  two  hundred  ships.  The  weather 
was  very  stormy  and  the  farther  we  sailed  from  the 
coast,  the  more  violent  the  wind  became.  In  a  few 
days  we  saw  only  a  few  ships  near  us  and  finally  none 
at  all.  Our  ship  constantly  grew  more  unsea worthy, 
and  the  water  poured  into  the  hull  until  the  barrels 
began  to  swim  about.  Of  course  we  fired  signals,  but 
in  vain.  No  ship  was  within  hailing  distance.  There 
was  nothing  left  for  us  to  do  but  to  delay  the  inevitable 
sinking  of  our  leaking  vessel.  We  had  to  lash  ourselves 
with  ropes  to  the  pump  that  was  on  the  upper  deck,  to 

46 


prevent  our  being  washed  overboard.  And  we  had  to 
pump  day  and  night  in  order  if  possible  to  discharge 
from  the  boat  the  water  that  kept  pouring  in  from 
below.  Since  we  had  not  been  in  communication  with 
the  rest  of  the  fleet  for  eight  days,  our  captain  opened 
his  sealed  orders,  and  found  that  our  assembly  point 
was  South  Carolina.  Each  captain  of  a  transport 
receives  sealed  martial  orders  which  he,  under  penalty 
of  death,  may  not  open  until  twenty-four  hours  shall 
have  passed  without  his  having  seen  any  boat.  Other 
wise  he  has  to  follow  the  orders  of  the  war  vessels  that 
always  accompany  the  transports,  which  orders  are 
communicated  to  him  by  the  firing  of  guns  and  by  other 
signals  that  are  understood  by  him.  Our  ship  directed 
its  course  south.  After  some  time,  we  sighted  dry 
land.  This  was  the  coast  of  the  great  State  of  Georgia, 
that  contains  over  59,000  square  miles.  We  cast  anchor 
near  Savannah,  the  capital  of  this  state,  and  made  a 
landing  in  a  convenient  place.  The  soldiers  were 
unshipped,  the  provisions  and  other  contents  of  the 
boat  put  ashore,  and  the  vessel  itself  raised.  The  great 
leaks  from  which  the  old  ship  had  suffered  during  the 
storm,  were  caulked  with  tow  and  sealed  over  with 
pitch. 

After  eight  days  we  took  ship  again  and  in  due  time 
arrived  at  the  port  of  Charleston,  the  capital  of  South 
Carolina,  where  we  were  greeted  by  the  other  vessels 
of  the  fleet  that  had  been  scattered  far  and  wide  by  the 
storm.  The  American  fleet  lay  under  the  guns  of  the 
fort  of  Charleston,  which  was  guarded  with  more  than 
a  hundred  cannon,  commanding  the  canal  leading  to 
the  city.  Besides,  all  along  the  canal,  there  had  been 
sunk  small  vessels  to  which  iron  spikes  had  been  fastened 
in  order  to  discourage  the  approach  of  any  unfriendly 
vessel.  But  in  spite  of  this,  the  English  fleet,  after 

47 


waiting  six  weeks  for  favoring  winds,  ran  past  the 
fortress,  through  the  cannon  fire  of  the  Americans, 
right  up  to  the  city  Charleston,  where  it  was  impossible 
for  them  to  be  shot  at.  During  this  venture  some  of  the 
ships  were  damaged,  and  we  also  had  a  few  killed  and 
others  wounded. 

But  before  the  English  sea  forces  had  passed  the 
fortress,  the  Hessian  troops  on  land  had  begun  to  lay 
siege  to  the  city.  It  required  altogether  seven  weeks 
to  compel  the  city  to  capitulate  to  the  Hessian-English 
army.  The  fortress,  that  could  have  held  out  much 
longer,  capitulated  also  when  the  city  surrendered. 
There  was  also  in  Charleston  a  body  of  troops  from 
France,  very  strong,  estimated  at  about  twelve  thousand 
men,  sent  over  to  assist  the  Americans.  This  corps  was 
given  leave  to  depart  after  the  city  and  the  fort  had 
surrendered  to  the  English.  During  the  siege  of  Charles 
ton,  I  had  an  opportunity  to  see  a  chief  of  the  free 
Indians  that  live  in  the  interior  of  the  North  American 
States  but  who  are  gradually  being  crowded  out  by  the 
civilized  Europeans  and  the  North  American  settlers. 

He  came  to  examine  our  earthworks,  and  to  offer  our 
General  Clinton  a  few  thousand  men  as  auxiliary  troops. 
But  the  General  refused  this  offer,  perhaps  chiefly  for 
the  reason  that  the  Indians  are  savage;  and  generally 
are  as  harmful  to  their  friends  as  to  their  enemies.  This 
chief  was  clothed  in  a  mantle  of  cloth  bordered  with 
bright  gold.  Instead  of  shoes,  he  wore  sandals  that 
were  bound  to  his  feet  with  strings.  In  his  nose  was 
suspended  a  big  silver  ring  that  hung  to  his  under  lip, 
and  he  wore  a  headdress  from  which  great  wing  feathers 
dangled. 

Shortly  after  the  surrender  of  Charleston  all  of  our 
men,  except  those  needed  to  hold  the  city,  were  ordered 
to  take  ship  again,  and  we  sailed  northward  in  order  to 

48 


take  Philadelphia,  then  in  the  hands  of  the  Americans; 
but  our  first  object  was  to  give  a  decisive  battle  to  the 
enemy,  whose  main  army  was  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Brandywine  Creek.  It  is  said  that  the  North  American 
army  was  one  hundred  thousand  men  strong.  We  had 
no  more  than  ten  thousand  English,  Scotch  and  Hessian 
soldiers,  with  some  troops  from  Brunswick.  A  few  days 
after  we  had  left  our  ships,  we  found  ourselves  only  two 
hours'  distant  from  the  enemy.  Here  we  made  a  camp, 
not  only  for  the  purpose  of  reconnoitering  the  position, 
in  order  to  determine  its  strength,  but  also  to  find  out 
something  about  the  Brandywine  Creek  over  which  we 
hoped  to  carry,  if  necessary,  our  light  cannon.  After 
our  general's  staff  had  obtained  the  desired  information, 
we  started  at  midnight,  separated  into  three  divisions. 
We  dragged  the  great  cannon  along  the  highway,  and 
arrived  at  daybreak  within  cannon  range  of  the  hostile 
camp. 

General  Washington,  who  commanded  here  in  person 
must  have  thought  that  this  was  our  entire  army,  and, 
that  we  intended  to  make  an  attempt  at  once  to  cross 
the  river;  for  this  reason  he  must  have  brought  there  the 
flower  of  his  troops.  I  was  with  the  third  division,  that 
marched  the  greater  part  of  the  way  through  forests 
and  had  to  listen  to  the  faraway  roar  of  the  cannon.  It 
lacked  half  an  hour  of  sunset  when  we  made  a  halt, 
threw  our  knapsacks  into  a  pile  and  put  on  our  grenadier 
caps.  This  meant  an  immediate  attack.  An  adjutant 
approached  our  general  from  the  right  wing,  and  we 
were  ordered  to  march  in  double  file.  And  now  we 
advanced  with  fife  and  drum,  charging  with  bayonets 
through  the  shallow  Brandywine,  storming  the  earth 
works  of  the  enemy  with  a  rush  and  causing  them  to 
abandon  everything  and  take  to  their  heels.  We  pur 
sued  the  enemy  with  shot  and  shell  until  late  in  the  night. 

49 


From  the  left  wing  alone  we  took  twenty  two  cannon 
of  the  enemy.  At  the  center  and  from  the  right  wing 
a  few  more  had  been  captured.  Also  a  great  many  men 
were  taken,  the  exact  number  of  whom  I  was  unable  to 
ascertain.  The  field  of  battle  was  strewn  with  rifles 
and  powder  pouches.  We  remained  in  camp  here  eight 
days.  Every  day  new  captures  were  made  of  those 
who  tried  to  find  refuge  in  the  forests.  The  abandoned 
rifles  and  powder  pouches  were  picked  up,  piled  in 
wagons,  and  driven  after  the  army. 

Before  the  battle  we  had  had  to  contend  ourselves 
with  ship's  provisions;  but  now  we  received  again  fresh 
bread  and  meat.  The  owners  of  plantations  had 
returned  with  their  cattle  to  their  homes. 

After  that,  the  Hessian  army  marched  to  Philadelphia 
without  being  molested.  But  since  the  English  were 
in  possession  of  that  city,  the  Hessians  encamped  at  a 
little  hill  covered  with  chestnut  trees,  about  half  an 
hour  away.  One  morning  a  few  days  later  we  were 
attacked  by  a  very  strong  troop  of  American  soldiers. 
The  enemy  did  not  find  us  unprepared  however.  We 
seized  our  weapons  with  all  haste  and  rushed  out  to 
meet  the  enemy,  whose  cannon  shot  began  to  fall  into 
our  camp,  and  we  not  only  held  our  positions  but  also 
put  our  foes  to  flight  and  followed  them  over  the  Schuyl- 
kill  River.  After  this  bloody  business  was  finished,  we 
again  withdrew  to  camp. 

However,  since  Philadelphia  was  in  possession  of  the 
Americans,  our  vessels  of  war  and  transports  had  to 
fight  their  way  into  port  with  difficulty,  for  the  enemy 
had  not  only  sunk  in  the  Delaware  River  old  hulls  of 
vessels  to  which  iron  spikes  had  been  attached,  but  the 
river  itself  was  so  shallow  in  places  that  our  boats  were 
in  danger  of  running  aground  on  the  shoals.  Besides 
this,  the  enemy  had  thrown  up  opposite  the  fort  on  a 

50 


tongue  of  land  called  Redbank,  jutting  out  from  the 
shore  of  New  Jersey,  immense  earthworks  that  had  to  be 
taken  before  the  English  fleet  could  hope  to  proceed 
into  port. 

The  Hessian  army  division  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenant  General  von  Knipphausen  received  orders 
to  take  the  above-mentioned  earthworks  from  the  land 
side.  In  the  following  out  of  this  order,  we  crossed  the 
Delaware  one  night  in  skiffs  and  barges. 

After  we  had  crossed  over  the  river  mentioned  above, 
we  marched  through  dense  forests  where  I  met  one  of  my 
old  acquaintances  living  in  the  province  of  New  Jersey, 
and  I  said  to  him  jestingly  that  I  was  going  to  visit  my 
old  master.  This  remark  was  an  incautious  one,  and 
could  easily  have  had  damaging  consequences  for  me  in 
case  our  expedition  miscarried,  since  I  was,  as  I  have 
shown,  a  derserter  from  the  American  army.  After  we 
had  marched  all  day  we  found  ourselves  still  an  hour's 
journey  from  the  earthworks  we  were  supposed  to  take. 
We  finally  arrived  at  a  forest  that  was  only  half  an 
hour's  march  from  the  fortress,  that  we  meant  to 
capture.  The  earthworks  had  been  thrown  up  on  an 
elevated  piece  of  ground,  and  from  where  we  were,  we 
could  see  the  soldiers  there,  hanging  out  their  wash  to 
dry.  We  had  to  set  to  work  in  the  forest  to  get  together 
as  quickly  as  possible  material  for  breastworks,  to 
assist  us  if  necessary  in  taking  the  earthworks.  In  the 
meantime,  Colonel  von  Dunopp,  who  commanded  our 
troop,  sent  a  bugler  to  the  Americans,  demanding  their 
surrender.  On  their  refusal,  the  signal  to  advance  was 
given,  and  we  went  forward  to  the  sound  of  fife  and 
drum. 

Meantime  the  enemy  made  all  possible  preparation 
for  defence,  and  were  kept  informed  of  our  movements 
by  the  American  war  vessels  that  lay  anchored  near  the 

51 


earthworks,  and  to  which  they  communicated  by  means 
of  speaking  tubes.  They  opened  fire  on  us  before  we 
were  well  out  of  the  forest,  and  did  us  considerable 
damage.  Nevertheless  we  advanced  courageously  and 
reached  the  first  palisade  before  a  few  faint-hearted  ones 
showed  signs  of  wishing  to  run  away.  This  angered 
me,  and  as  I  found  that  I  was  unable  to  climb  the 
palisade,  I  called  to  a  few  of  them  to  help  me  up,  making 
them  believe  that  Colonel  Dunopp  was  already  inside 
the  earthworks  and  that  those  were  as  good  as  taken. 
They  complied  with  my  request;  but  as  I  pressed  for 
ward  with  the  invaders,  we  came  to  a  palisade  made  of 
fruit  trees,  the  branches  of  which  had  been  sharpened. 
Now  we  were  so  near  the  very  heart  of  the  fortification 
that  we  could  see  the  enemy  in  their  blockhouses,  taking 
sight  of  us,  but  we  had  to  relinquish  all  hope  of  the 
success  of  our  undertaking.  A  hail  of  rifle  bullets  and 
cannon  balls  fell  around  us;  warriors  dropped  on  every 
side.  We  essayed  another  attack  and  Colonel  von 
Dunopp  was  among  the  first  to  charge.  But  he  was 
struck  down,  both  his  lower  limbs  being  shattered  by  an 
exploding  cartridge.  This  accident  only  increased  the 
helplessness  of  his  men;  all  started  to  retreat.  Just  at 
the  moment  when  I  was  trying  to  pass  between  the 
stakes  of  the  palisade,  I  was  struck  by  a  rifle  bullet  that 
entered  under  one  of  my  shoulder  blades,  passed  over 
my  spinal  column  and  out  through  the  other  shoulder 
blade.  And  so  I  dropped  to  the  ground,  as  the  others 
started  to  retreat.  Racked  with  agony,  listening  to 
the  screams  of  pain  from  my  comrades,  I  lay  there  un 
attended,  through  the  chill  October  night.  Not  being 
able  to  see  my  wound  I  did  not  know  myself  how 
seriously  I  had  been  hurt. 

And  even  before  nightfall  I  saw  the  jubilant  Ameri 
cans  come  down  to  the  palisade  in  their  glittering 

52 


uniforms  and  heard  them  call  to  us:  "Oh,  you  Hessian 
scoundrels!  Now  we  are  going  to  put  an  end  to  all  of 
you!" 

Soon  after  this  they  came  down  to  the  battle-field, 
and  took  away  from  some  of  the  wounded  Hessian 
officers  their  purses  and  their  watches.  American 
officers  seeing  this  ran  out  and  drove  the  plunderers 
back  within  the  fortification,  in  fear,  I  think  lest  the 
attack  by  the  Hessians  be  renewed.  But  this  did  not 
happen;  and  on  the  following  morning  all  the  wounded 
soldiers  were  carried  on  stretchers  inside  the  earthworks. 
Messengers  were  then  dispatched  to  the  Hessian  army 
division  for  surgeons  to  take  care  of  us.  A  few  of  these 
surgeons  arrived  that  same  day,  and  were  able  to  help 
at  least  a  few  of  us.  Some  of  us  were  promptly  band 
aged,  and  on  others  amputations  of  legs  or  of  arms  were 
performed.  I  was  among  the  first  to  be  taken  care  of 
by  the  doctors,  because  I  made  the  statement  that  I  was 
a  surgeon  myself.  After  I  had  been  cared  for  properly, 
I  attended  the  funeral  of  our  commander,  Colonel  von 
Dunopp,  which  took  place  with  all  military  honors. 
All  the  others  that  had  fallen  were  buried  in  one  big 
trench. 

A  few  days  later  all  the  wounded  Hessians  were  taken 
in  closed  carriages  to  the  main  hospital  in  Princeton, 
where  they  were  cared  for.  In  this  hospital  at  Princeton 
I  was  recognized  by  one  of  the  nurses  who  had  served 
with  me  in  the  volunteer  corps  of  the  Americans,  and  he 
asked  me  how  it  was  that  I  was  with  the  Hessians.  I 
was  not  overjoyed  at  being  recognized.  I  answered, 
being  afraid  of  the  consequences  did  I  confess  my  deser 
tion,  that  I  had  been  captured  during  the  skirmish  at 
the  mountain  in  Pennsylvania  when  the  volunteer 
corps  had  been  overwhelmed,  and  that  I  had  been  kept 
a  prisoner  since  that  day.  As  our  conversation  was 

53 


carried  on  in  English,  it  was  overheard  by  these  standing 
near,  among  whom  was  the  physician  on  duty  at  that 
time. 

I  had  to  tell  him  all  that  had  happened  to  me,  and 
when  he  learned  that  I  was  a  physician,  he  offered 
immediately  to  take  me  into  his  service.  His  name 
was  Tilton  and  he  intended  having  me  work  in  the 
hospital,  as  my  wound  was  not  giving  rne  any  consider 
able  trouble.  I  accepted  his  invitation  without  hesita 
tion,  and  went  straightway  to  his  house.  He  was  not 
married  and  had  no  servant.  So  I  had  not  only  to  feed 
his  saddle  horse,  but  to  perform  domestic  duties  as  well. 
In  a  short  time  my  wound  was  completely  healed,  and 
I  was  able  to  take  up  my  hospital  duties.  Aside  from 
my  food  I  received  no  compensation  except  when  I 
shaved  some  one,  let  blood  or  performed  some  other 
surgical  operation.  But  soon  I  was  in  the  position 
where  I  could  save  a  small  amount  of  money.  Mr. 
Tilton  was  a  well-meaning  and  learned  gentleman. 
Often  in  hours  of  leisure  he  would  converse  with  me  not 
only  on  subjects  relating  to  his  profession  but  also  about 
the  American  war  that  progressed  with  changing  for 
tunes.  Although  I  myself  had  participated  in  the 
opening  events  of  the  war,  I  had  to  ask  him  the  causes, 
since  he  knew  more  about  it  than  I.  And  this  is  what 
he  said  about  the  North  American  war:  "Of  course, 
England  in  the  year  1765  had  won  Canada  from  the 
French,  thus  ridding  herself  of  a  disagreeable  neighbor, 
but  she  also  heaped  upon  herself  the  burden  of  a  debt 
of  forty  million  pounds.  The  military  and  civil  govern- 
ment  of  the  American  provinces  cost  America  an  im 
mense  amount  of  money.  All  this  caused  the  English 
parliament  to  attempt  to  place  some  of  the  responsi 
bility  of  payment  of  this  debt  on  the  American  colonies, 
so  direct  taxes  were  imposed.  Especially  the  North 

54 


American  colonists  objected  to  paying  the  tax  on  the 
consignments  of  tea  that  the  East  India  Company  were 
allowed  to  bring  to  their  ports.  All  the  merchants 
refused  to  accept  the  tea  that  was  sent  to  them,  and  if 
any  one  failed  to  reject  it,  he  was  adjudged  lacking  in 
honor.  In  Boston  a  cousin  of  Governor  Hutchinson 
accepted  a  consignment  of  tea,  but  the  people  in  open 
revolt  seized  the  three  hundred  and  forty  boxes  and 
threw  them  into  the  sea.  This  refusal  brought  severe 
punishment  down  on  the  Americans  and  the  British 
closed  the  port  of  Boston.  This  embargo  quickly 
fanned  to  a  blaze  the  hidden  smouldering  fire  of  rebel 
lion,  which  is  flaming  fiercely  now  on  the  banks  of  the 
Delaware,  the  Susquehanna,  the  Hudson,  the  Potomac, 
the  Savannah,  the  Ohio  and  the  Mississippi.  Since 
1774  the  provinces  of  New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts, 
Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania, 
Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  New  York,  North 
Carolina,  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  had  confederated, 
formed  of  their  representatives  a  Congress  headed  by  a 
President  whom  the  senators  elected  for  a  term  of  six 
years.  The  most  excellent  General  Washington  leads 
the  defenders  of  the  country,  who  are  determined  not  to 
lay  down  their  weapons  until  the  colonies  are  free.  The 
thoughtful  and  sincere  Franklin  is  the  chief  counsellor 
of  the  commander-in-chief.  Even  if  the  English  have 
more  experienced  soldiers  and  officers,  I  am  not  afraid 
for  the  welfare  of  the  American  nation.  Our  com 
manders  and  soldiers  will  shortly  learn  the  trade  of  war 
from  our  enemies,  just  as  the  Russians  did  from  the 
Swedes  some  time  ago.  And  even  if  the  army  of  the 
enemy  is  courageous,  ours  is  none  the  less  brave,  and 
we  have  the  advantage  of  greater  numbers  and  knowl 
edge  of  the  territory.  The  English  have  to  bring  rein 
forcements  at  great  expense  from  Europe.  Our  hosts 

55 


of  freedom  spring  up  everywhere.  I  am  living  in  the 
happy  and  confident  hope  that  the  struggle  for  freedom 
puts  forth  such  strong  and  deep  roots  under  the  protec 
tion  of  the  genius  of  human  rights,  that  neither  Hessians 
nor  English  will  be  able  to  destroy.  The  dawn  of 
better  times  and  of  a  higher  political  and  moral  life 
breaks  for  you,  'for  your  mistreated  Fatherland/  "  said 
Mr.  Tilton,  with  a  beaming  countenance.  "The  fame 
of  our  remarkable  uprising  is  heard  from  the  coast  of 
Labrador  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  from  the  Orinoco  to  the 
Plata,  from  the  shores  of  the  ancient  kingdoms  of  the 
Incas  to  the  West  Indian  archipelago.  Everywhere 
will  arise  the  consciousness  of  latent  power  and  the 
longing  for  better  political  conditions.  Just  as  once 
Asiatic  and  Egyptian  culture,  transplanted  to  the  woody 
shores  of  Italy  and  Greece,  put  forth  new  blossoms,  in 
the  same  manner  European  culture  will  burst  into 
flower  in  the  forests  of  America,  and  the  well  developed 
youth  will  cease  to  fear  the  rod  of  the  father  but 
will  dwell  here,  independent  and  strong  for  himself. 
Maybe,"  concluded  my  prophetic  superior,"  our  new 
life  in  freedom  will  beneficially  influence  Europe 
and  the  other  parts  of  the  world." 

This  and  other  remarks  of  Mr.  Tilton,  which  I  did  not 
wholly  understand,  seemed  to  me  in  those  days  incred 
ible,  and  I  often  felt  like  laughing  outright  in  his  face. 
But  since  in  the  year  1783,  England  was  forced  to 
recognize  the  independence  of  the  North  American 
States,  I  saw  clearly  that  physician  Tilton  of  Princeton 
had  not  badly  prophesied  the  political  occurences  of  the 
future.  I  came  to  this  conclusion  later,  after  the 
eruption  of  the  French  Revolution.  The  army  corps 
that  had  been  sent  from  France  (which  was  still  suffering 
from  the  loss  of  Canada)  and  who  had  taken  prisoners  by 
the  English  at  the  battle  of  Charleston,  was  doubtless  an 

56 


important  factor  in  the  rising  of  the  French  Revolution. 
Also  it  is  a  well-known  fact  that  those  Frenchmen,  who 
gained  their  military  experience  in  the  North  American 
struggle  for  freedom,  did  not  only  give  themselves 
immediately  over  to  the  cause  of  liberty  in  their  own 
country,  but  acted  also  as  mouth-pieces  for  the  teach 
ings  of  Rousseau,  Montesquieu,  and  d'Alembert,  and  in 
this  way  made  proselytes  for  the  cause  so  dear  to  them. 
And  did  not  the  sight  of  North  American  Freedom  and 
its  attractive  fruits  inspire  very  recently  other  countries 
of  America  to  make  the  attempt  to  bring  about  a  similar 
condition  of  affairs?  A  new  life  blossoms  on  the 
Orinoco,  on  the  Plata,  in  Peru  and  in  Hayti ;  and  Ameri 
ca,  which  consisted  until  recently  only  of  European 
provinces  and  a  few  independent  states,  stands  there 
demanding  loudly  to  be  received  into  the  family  of  the 
countries  of  the  world,  and  has  already  been  partly 
welcomed.  Greater  and  more  far-reaching  are  the 
consequences  of  the  North  American  struggle  than  Mr. 
Tilton  could  ever  have  suspected. 

Although  I  got  on  very  well  with  my  philathropic 
and  learned  principal,  I  did  not  desire  to  remain  in 
America,  but  wanted  to  return  to  my  fatherland.  So 
I  made  my  feelings  known  to  my  chief  and  asked  him 
to  procure  me  a  pass  to  go  to  Philadelphia,  if  he  thought 
that  I  would  not  be  prevented  from  leaving  America. 
I  desired  to  take  passage  on  a  ship  that  carried  French 
troops  or  to  sail  to  the  West  Indies  and  await  there  an 
opportunity  to  go  to  Europe.  Although  Mr.  Tilton 
was  not  very  pleased  at  my  going,  he  gave  me  a  pass, 
because,  as  he  said,  he  was  unable  to  refuse  my  urgent 
demand.  Moved  to  tears,  I  said  good-by  to  this 
honorable  gentleman,  and  went  to  Philadelphia.  After 
my  arrival  I  took  quarters  at  an  inn,  and  started 
immediately  to  investigate  when  a  ship  might  be  sailing 

57 


for  France  or  for  the  West  Indies.  But  to  my  great 
disappointment,  I  learned  that  owing  to  the  state  of  war, 
quite  a  time  must  elapse  before  a  boat  would  sail.  I 
met  here  a  proprietor  of  an  inn  situated  one  hour  out 
side  of  Philadelphia,  and  he  offered  to  take  me  into  his 
service.  I  accepted  immediately  as  I  wanted  to  stay 
near  Philadelphia,  and  await  a  chance  to  go  to  Europe. 
Again  I  was  a  porter,  and  received  as  pay  my  lodging, 
my  board  and  tips.  Among  my  duties  was  the  care  of 
my  master's  saddle  horse,  an  English  racer  called  The 
Redbird.  It  was  an  extremely  fine  animal,  and  I  had 
to  exercise  him  every  now  and  then.  In  the  feeding  and 
caring  for  the  animal,  this  was  the  program:  I  had  to 
give  it  food  five  or  six  times  a  day,  but  I  could  never 
give  him  more  than  half  a  measure  of  very  pure  oats  and 
some  clean  clover  hay.  Every  evening,  I  had  to  wrap 
his  legs  with  cow-dung,  after  I  had  washed  them  with 
soapy  water  and  dried  them  carefully.  I  also  prepared 
for  him  a  thick  bed  of  straw.  In  the  morning  the  cow- 
dung  was  taken  off  his  legs  and  the  straw  removed,  so 
that  he  stood  all  day  on  the  bare  boards.  In  the  after 
noon  I  had  to  trot  him.  During  my  stay  with  my 
present  master,  a  race  was  arranged  between  his  animal 
and  another  one  called  The  Grave  House.  My  master 
had  bet  a  few  thousand  pounds  sterling  that  his  racer 
would  arrive  at  the  goal  first.  I  had  a  similar  bet  with 
an  acquaintance,  of  my  entire  fortune  consisting  of  five 
pounds.  On  the  day  appointed  for  the  horse  race  a 
heavy  snow  fell  and  I  had  to  clear  the  race  track.  After 
all  the  preparations  for  the  race  had  been  made,  a  few 
hundred  more  bets  had  been  closed  besides  those  of  the 
men  who  owned  the  horses.  Then  the  races  began. 
Unfortunately  the  Red  Bird  passed  the  goal  two  seconds 
after  the  other  horse,  and  my  master  and  myself  lost 
our  money.  It  was  the  custom  also  to  place  bets  on 

58 


cock  fights.     The  cocks  were  armed  with  little  iron 
spurs. 

After  I  had  lost  all  my  money  on  this  horse  race,  I 
gave  up  hope  of  being  able  to  reach  Europe  very  soon, 
so  I  took  my  leave.  I  went  to  Philadelphia,  having 
heard  that  boats  would  sail  in  the  near  future  for  the 
West  Indies.  I  went  to  sea  as  an  ordinary  sailor  on 
one  of  these  boats.  It  was  a  merchant  ship  on  which  I 
had  taken  service,  bound  for  the  French  West  Indian 
colonies,  escorted  by  an  American  frigate.  We  put  to 
sea  without  delay.  A  few  days  after  we  had  lost  sight 
of  the  mainland  of  America,  we  saw  a  ship  coming  toward 
us  that  carried  no  flag.  To  learn  whether  this  were  an 
American  or  an  English  vessel — that  is,  if  it  were  friendly 
or  belonging  to  the  enemy,  we  fired  our  guns  so  that  we 
would  be  answered  by  the  running  up  of  some  standard. 
Our  demand  was  satisfied  without  delay;  not  the 
American  but  an  English  flag  swayed  on  its  mast.  It 
was  a  hostile  vessel.  As  soon  as  we  were  sure  of  this, 
our  commandant  decided  to  capture  the  vessel.  Both 
our  ships  came  alongside  and  demanded  its  surrender. 
As  this  was  refused,  we  started  to  fire  at  the  English, 
and  kept  it  up  until  they  took  in  their  sails  and  gave 
themselves  up  to  us.  Our  ship's  captain  decided  to 
send  the  captured  vessel  and  the  crew  back  to  Phila 
delphia.  For  this  purpose  a  number  of  men  were 
chosen  by  lot  who  should  serve  as  escort,  and  I  was 
among  those  chosen.  All  the  English  prisoners  were 
manacled  with  handcuffs  found  on  the  captured  vessel ; 
only  the  English  captain,  Dauny,  was  allowed  to  walk 
about  free.  Very  soon  this  captain  and  I  became 
friendly,  especially  when  he  heard  tHat  I  was  a  German 
and  longed  to  return  to  my  fatherland.  After  he  had 
gathered  the  impression  from  our  several  conversations 
that  I  was  by  no  means  an  enthusiastic  republican  he 

59 


confided  to  me  the  plan  he  had  formed  to  gain  liberty 
for  himself  and  his  fellow  prisoners  by  causing  mutiny 
among  the  seamen.  He  tried  to  induce  me  to  assist 
him  in  carrying  out  his  plans,  and  promised,  that  if 
everything  turned  out  as  he  wished,  to  take  care  of  my 
future  and  to  bring  me  back  to  the  English  army  at  all 
events.  This  was  the  plan  he  proposed  to  carry  out: 
He  himself,  a  strong  daring  man,  proposed  to  attack 
the  two  American  officers  at  a  given  time  with  an  old 
sword  that  he  had  secreted  in  the  boat.  At  the  same 
time  I  was  to  free,  as  quickly  as  possible,  the  hands  not 
only  of  the  English  officers,  but  also  of  the  ordinary 
seamen.  It  all  depended  on  me,  he  said,  and  if  I  were 
quick  enough,  the  plan  had  to  succeed. 

Any  one  can  realize  that  I  suffered  a  great  temptation. 
I  shrank  at  first  from  the  gravely  dangerous  business 
that  it  was  proposed  I  should  take  upon  myself.  But 
since  Dauny  spared  no  effort  to  persuade  me,  I  finally 
consented.  I  realized  that  by  being  implicated  in  this 
business,  I  wronged  the  North  Americans;  but  the 
arguments  of  Captain  Dauny  quieted  all  that  my 
conscience  said  against  it.  The  promise  of  a  return  to 
Europe  on  an  English  ship  in  the  near  future  did  much 
to  influence  me  in  my  decision.  Not  without  misgiving 
did  I  watch  the  approach  of  the  hour  that  was  appointed 
by  the  English  Captain  for  the  carrying  out  of  his  plan. 
It  meant  sure  death  to  me  if  the  project  miscarried. 
The  hour  arrived.  Armed  with  the  old  sword  that  he 
had  secreted,  Dauny,  without  hesitation,  fell  upon  the 
two  American  officers,  who,  not  being  in  the  least 
prepared,  were  easily  overcome.  In  the  meantime  I 
had  not  only  freed  all  the  English  officers  but  had,  with 
hammers,  broken  off  the  handcuffs  on  a  part  of  the  men. 
They  fell  with  terrible  shrieks  upon  the  Americans  and 
disarmed  them.  The  sailors  that  were  high  up  in  the 

60 


masts  did  not  understand  for  a  moment  or  two  what  had 
happened,  and  suspected  that  a  fire  had  broken  out.  But 
when  they  learned  of  the  mutiny,  they  asked  for  pardon. 
I  was  overjoyed  at  the  happy  outcome  of  this  daring 
deed,  of  which  I  cannot  even  yet  think  without  emotion, 
because  it  saved  me  from  certain  death.  Also  I  rejoiced 
over  the  fact  that  there  was  no  loss  of  life. 

After  this  event,  conditions  on  shipboard  changed. 
The  English  took  possession  of  the  vessel,  and  the 
Americans  had  to  occupy  the  position  that  the  English 
had  had  before.  Captain  Dauny  took  over  the  com 
mand.  He  knew  exactly  where  we  were,  and  turned  our 
course  towards  New  York,  where  the  English  fleet  lay; 
and  with  a  favorable  wind  we  arrived  there  in  due  time. 

Immediately  on  landing,  I  endeavored  to  find  the 
regiment  of  von  Knipphausen,  in  which  I  had  before 
enlisted.  In  New  York  I  was  able  to  find  only  a  recruit 
ing  station  for  this  regiment,  since  the  regiment  itself 
was  besieging  Fort  Washington.  The  officer  who  was 
in  charge  of  this  station  and  who  gave  me  the  informa 
tion,  told  me  that  the  regiment  was  expected  very  soon 
in  New  York.  I  made  up  my  mind  to  wait  for  it.  As 
a  portion  of  the  men,  after  the  taking  of  this  fort, 
returned  to  New  York,  I  applied  of  Dr.  Michaelis  for 
the  position  of  staff  physician  of  the  Hessians.  He 
advised  me  first  to  attend  his  medical  lectures  which  he 
was  about  to  give  in  New  York  and  promised  to  give 
me  a  position  if  possible  in  the  regiment  of  von  Knipp 
hausen.  I  followed  the  advice  of  the  good  Dr. 
Michaelis,  enrolled  in  his  class,  and  helped  him  as  well 
as  I  could  in  his  hospital  duties.  After  I  had  attended 
his  lectures  for  half  a  year,  the  Knipphausen  regiment 
came  back  to  New  York,  and  as  there  was  a  vacancy 
in  the  company  commanded  by  Colonel  von  Burg,  I 
was  made  field  surgeon. 

61 


Here  I  will  mention  the  tragic  fate  that  overtook  a 
certain  Major  Andre  during  the  siege  of  Fort  Washing 
ton.  This  major  was  ordered  by  General  Arnold,  who 
had  gone  over  from  the  Americans  to  the  English,  to 
reconnoitre  the  fort.  Disguised,  he  had  advanced  to 
the  last  post  of  the  enemy,  when  he  was  recognized  and 
arrested  as  a  spy.  Although  Majors  Clinton  and 
Arnold  did  their  best  to  induce  Washington,  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief,  to  release  Andre,  no  attention  was 
paid  to  these  requests  and  he  was  hanged  as  a  spy. 
Shortly  after  I  had  received  my  position  as  surgeon,  the 
regiment  Knipphausen  was  transferred  to  Long  Island 
on  the  other  side  of  New  York.  We  camped  near  a 
little  city  in  which  only  the  officers  received  quarters. 
All  the  men  had  to  build  sod-houses  for  themselves. 
The  surgeons  of  this  regiment  erected  for  themselves  a 
large  house  of  sod,  so  that  they  could  be  easily  found. 
Soon  we  became  known  in  the  little  city  near  which  we 
camped  and  had  a  few  patients  there.  Regarding  these 
patients  we  made  an  oral  agreement,  to  wit:  one  after 
the  other  should  attend  the  patients  and  the  pay  should 
be  distributed  equally  among  us  all.  Since  I  spoke 
fluent  English  I  was  more  often  called  upon  by  the 
inhabitants  of  my  little  city  than  were  my  colleagues 
who  did  not  speak  English.  This  induced  me  not  to 
respect  the  agreement,  so  that  I  need  not  divide  my 
very  considerable  remuneration  with  the  others.  That 
caused  considerable  excitement  among  them;  and 
especially  a  certain  Franke  did  his  best  to  draw  me  into 
a  quarrel.  He  said,  "You  are  a  rebel/'  I  answered, 
"I  am  a  German  as  well  as  you,  and  a  surgeon  as  good 
as  you,  but  you  are  besides  this  a  scoundrel.  If  you  do 
not  like  this  statement  of  mine,  then  we  will  fight." 
The  angry  man  immediately  challenged  me  to  a  duel, 
and  both  of  us  chose  our  seconds.  We  went  to  a  garden 

62 


where  the  duel  was  to  take  place.  When  we  had  taken 
our  positions,  my  opponent  said:  "Do  we  fight  to  draw 
blood  or  to  kill?"  I  answered  immediately,  "I  fight 
for  nothing  less  than  for  life  and  for  death/'  My 
opponent,  who  was  a  very  good  fencer,  had  not  expected 
this  answer  from  me.  He  dropped  his  sword  and  cried: 
"Brother  I  see  that  your  heart  is  in  the  right  place  and 
that  you  are  a  brave  man.  I  have  all  the  satisfaction 
I  wanted.  Come  and  give  me  your  hand  as  a  sign  of 
reconciliation." 

And  so  it  happened.  We  became  again  the  best  of 
friends,  and  cheered  our  spirits  with  a  bowl  of  punch. 
In  the  little  city  I  have  referred  to,  I  made  the  acquain 
tance  of  a  young  Irish  girl,  called  Betsy,  the  daughter 
of  a  merchant.  She  was  a  sweet,  modest  woman,  very 
much  attracted  to  me.  But  she  never  permitted  any 
intimacies  and  resisted  all  my  opportunities  in  a  way 
that  inspired  in  me  a  great  respect  for  her.  Oh,  would 
that  all  young  girls  would  act  towards  men  as  the 
lovable  Betsy  conducted  herself  with  me,  and  never 
would  permit  the  closest  relationship  before  the  priest 
has  consecrated  the  bond  of  their  love!  Those  who  do 
not  act  as  Betsy  did  are  not  only  regarded  without 
respect  by  all  moral  people,  but  they  also  are  despised 
by  those  to  whom  they  have  given  themselves  so  easily. 
Surely  I  would  not  be  able  to  think  so  respectfully  of  the 
lovely  Betsy  had  she  been  less  firmly  grounded  in 
virtue.  After  six  months  had  passed,  our  regiment  had 
orders  to  march  back  to  New  York.  I  had  therefore  to 
collect  with  all  possible  dispatch  the  money  owed  me 
by  my  patients.  Among  my  debtors  were  two  girls 
who  drove  a  dishonorable  business  with  their  bodies  and 
whom  I  had  cured.  They,  knowing  the  orders  that  we 
had  received,  hesitated  to  pay  their  debt,  as  the  de 
parture  of  our  regiment  was  imminent.  This  angered 

63 


me,  and  accompanied  by  two  grenadiers,  I  paid  them  a 
visit  at  their  home  and  demanded  to  be  paid  immediate 
ly.  They  replied  that  they  had  no  money,  and  besides 
used  very  impolite  language.  This  excited  my  wrath 
in  a  most  terrible  manner  and  I  took  out  my  sword  and 
with  it  destroyed  the  mirrors  and  windows.  The  noise 
I  made  was  heard  by  a  Hessian  colonel  who  was  living 
opposite  and  he  immediately  sent  the  watch  to  arrest 
me.  After  I  stated  that  I  belonged  to  the  Knipphausen 
regiment,  I  was  taken  back  to  camp,  and  when  brought 
before  Colonel  von  Burg,  released  on  the  condition  that 
I  repair  all  the  damage  if  the  women  should  ask  it. 
This  I  promised. 

At  midnight  the  regiment  broke  up  and  marched 
towards  New  York.  On  the  preceding  day,  I  paid  a 
visit  to  my  beautiful,  beloved  Betsy  to  bid  her  good-by. 
She  seemed  very  broken  up  over  my  departure,  but 
could  not  decide  to  follow  me  to  Germany.  She  asked 
if  I  would  remain  in  America  she  would  promise  to  be 
mine.  I  could  not  make  up  my  mind  to  do  that  and 
with  tears  in  my  eyes  I  left  this  magnificently  virtuous 
girl  who  was  worthy  to  be  a  pattern  to  all  other  maidens. 
Our  regiment  went  into  camp  near  New  York  where  it 
remained  until  peace  was  concluded.  At  this  time  I 
witnessed  a  terrible  execution.  An  English  ship's 
captain  who  had  made  the  attempt  to  go  over  with  his 
frigate  to  the  enemy  and  had  been  prevented  from 
doing  so  by  an  English  war  vessel,  was  hanged  on  a 
gallows  erected  near  the  banks  of  the  North  River. 
Seven  accomplices  were  executed  at  the  same  time  on 
a  war  vessel  lying  in  the  New  York  port.  I  could  not 
believe  at  first  that  England  and  the  colonies  would 
make  peace;  but  well-informed  persons  declared  that 
the  end  of  the  war  was  undoubtedly  in  sight.  The 
English  and  Hessian  army  had  suffered  terribly  during 

64 


the  last  months.  Generals  Burgoyne  and  Cornwallis, 
who  with  their  troops  had  occupied  the  northern 
provinces,  had  been  forced  by  hunger  to  surrender  to 
the  Americans.  A  similar  fate  had  befallen  the  army 
division  under  the  command  of  the  Hessian  General 
Rahl.  Besides  this,  the  English  government  realized 
that  it  could  not  rule  over  the  thirteen  American  states 
and  was  inclined  to  make  peace.  Lord  North  and 
Secretary  of  State  Fox  gave  the  English  generals  orders 
to  stop  all  hostilities  in  the  last  days  of  March  in  1782. 
I  was  reminded  of  the  prophesies  of  Tilton,  the  physician, 
in  Princeton. 

Later,  in  the  year  1783,  peace  was  declared  through 
the  mediation  of  France,  the  English  and  Hessian  army 
was  placed  aboard  transports  and  war  vessels  to  the 
number  of  two  hundred,  and  shipped  off  to  Europe. 

A  single  ship  was  commissioned  to  receive  our  entire 
regiment  and  was  therefore  very  heavily  loaded.  The 
fleet  sailed  in  the  following  order:  The  transports  were 
surrounded  on  all  sides  by  war  vessels.  The  admiral's 
ship,  in  advance  of  all  others,  was  in  command.  The 
orders  were  given  partly  by  cannon  shots,  partly  by 
signalling  with  differently  colored  flags;  and  at  night  by 
three  big  lanterns  which  could  be  seen  far  and  wide. 
No  captain  was  allowed  to  leave  the  fleet  with  his  ship 
unless  he  wished  to  invite  the  severest  penalty.  Not 
withstanding  this,  our  captain  one  night  set  all  sails  and 
deliberately  left  the  fleet.  We  sailed  with  a  good  wind 
quickly  forward,  and  landed  nearly  one  month  before 
the  other  vessels,  arriving  at  the  little  market  town, 
Bremerlehe,  on  the  River  Weser. 

Before  I  proceed  to  set  down  a  few  facts  about  my 
later  history,  I  will  make  some  remarks  about  the  con 
ditions  at  present  in  the  American  free  states,  in  which 
so  much  happened  to  me  and  in  which  I  for  my  part  did 

65 


not  find  happiness.  These  free  states  have  grown  very 
greatly  since  the  year  1783.  It  has  at  present  an  area 
of  more  than  197,000  square  miles.  There  could  be 
formed  from  it  eight  countries  as  large  as  the  Austrian 
Empire.  Prussia  could  find  place  inside  its  boundaries 
twenty-four  times.  Notwithstanding  its  extension,  the 
population  of  the  United  States  does  not  even  equal  that 
of  the  much  smaller  state  of  Prussia.  But  it  increases 
from  year  to  year. 

The  States  consist  now  of  nineteen  closely  related 
republics,  and  a  few  territories  and  dependencies.  The 
forests  are  being  rapidly  cut  away  and  without  doubt, 
there  can  be  seen  plantations  and  even  cities  at  this 
time  where  I,  in  my  day,  saw  dense  woods.  How  many 
inhabitants  would  this  great  country  have  were  it  as 
closely  populated  as  the  Prussian  dukedom  of  Saxony! 

After  the  Knipphausen  regiment  had  landed  and  had 
taken  a  few  days'  rest,  it  started  its  march  towards 
Hessea.  Everywhere  we  went,  especially  when  we 
passed  through  the  little  towns,  the  people  thronged 
to  look  at  us,  attracted  especially  by  the  negroes  who 
were  employed  in  the  regiment  bands.  The  regiment 
occupied  barracks  in  and  near  Grebenstein,  not  far  from 
Cassel.  All  its  foreigners  were  soon  afterwards  dis 
missed.  I  also  received  my  discharge  and  my  back  pay, 
which  amounted  to  twenty  dollars.  I  started  for  home 
immediately. 

After  a  few  days  I  stepped  on  Saxon  ground,  and 
shouted  with  joy.  Accompanied  by  a  confectioner 
who  had  agreed  for  a  certain  price  to  carry  my  gripsack, 
I  went  to  Leipzig,  Torgau  and  from  there  to  Senftenberg. 
Passing  through  the  village  Cletewitz  I  stopped  at  the 
Totzig  Mills,  half  an  hour  from  Senftenberg,  in  the 
hopes  of  seeing  some  people  from  that  place,  but  no  one 
recognized  me  here,  not  even  the  proprietor  of  the  mills, 

66 


who  had  been  my  schoolmate  in  Senftenberg.  After 
I  had  disclosed  my  identity  and  inquired  after  the 
welfare  of  my  family,  I  learned  that  my  mother  had  died 
a  few  years  ago  and  that  my  father  lay  very  sick.  After 
he  had  told  me  of  a  few  other  things  that  had  happened 
in  these  parts  during  my  absence,  I  hurried  to  Senften 
berg.  Here  I  was  received  with  great  evidences  of 
pleasure  by  the  electoral  tax  commissioner  Roesser,  a 
brother-in-law  of  my  deceased  mother.  As  I  desired 
to  see  my  father  that  same  day,  the  son  of  the  tax  com 
missioner  was  dispatched  to  Lauta,  to  prepare  him  for 
my  arrival.  Soon  after,  I  started  for  the  place  of  my 
birth.  Near  Koschenberg  I  was  met  by  young  Roesser 
accompanied  by  my  younger  sisters,  who  did  not  know 
me  at  all,  since  they  were  little  children  when  I  went 
out  into  the  world,  and  it  seemed  strange  to  me  to  see 
them  as  growing  maidens.  Although  we  were  happy 
over  our  reunion,  our  rejoicing  soon  gave  place  to 
sorrow,  when  they  told  me  that  our  father  was  very 
sick  and  could  live  perhaps  only  a  few  more  days.  With 
sincere  thankfulness  on  entering  my  native  town  again, 
I  praised  Providence  that  had  saved  me  so  graciously 
from  so  many  dangers  and  so  many  terrible  situations. 
And  although  I  had  to  walk  on  my  feet  and  could  not 
drive  in  my  coach  and  four,  I  rejoiced  from  the  bottom 
of  my  heart  that  I  was  walking  on  the  soil  of  Lauta. 

I  entered  my  father's  house  with  tears  in  my  eyes, 
and  they  that  were  there  wept  also.  Disregarding  his 
great  weakness,  my  father  sat  up  in  bed  and  said  in  a 
failing  voice:  "My  son,  the  light  of  my  eyes  has  left  me. 
I  cannot  see  you,  but  your  voice  tells  me  that  you  are 
my  son." 

I  fell  into  his  emaciated  arms  and  we  wept.  He  then 
told  me  that  during  my  absence  many  misfortunes  had 
overtaken  him;  that  after  the  death  of  my  mother  and 

67 


my  brother  Friedrich,  who  had  been  pastor  in  Hohen- 
bocka,  he  had  been  seized  with  an  epidemic  disease  and 
that  he  was  for  a  long  time  unable  to  exercise  his  duties. 
Then  he  informed  me  that  he  had  afterwards  married 
the  sister  of  Pastor  Zierenberg  in  Petershain,  a  woman 
of  his  own  age,  who  had  taken  excellent  care  of  his 
little  children.  My  stepmother  seemed  to  be  very  glad 
to  have  me  at  home  again,  especially,  I  think,  because 
she  believed  that  in  case  of  my  father's  death,  I  would 
provide  for  my  half -grown  brothers  and  sisters. 

Only  two  more  days  did  I  see  my  father  among  the 
living.  On  the  third,  his  soul  departed  from  the  worn- 
out  body  and  went  to  a  higher,  better  life. 

After  my  father's  death  I  took  over  the  management 
of  the  affairs  of  my  family  and  had  to  go  to  the  court 
house  in  Senftenberg,  to  adjust  these  matters  very  often. 
On  these  occasions  I  usually  paid  a  visit  to  my  uncle 
and  my  aunt  and  to  the  tax  commissioner  in  this  city. 
They  all  advised  me  to  settle  in  this  place,  and  to  marry, 
drawing  my  attention  to  the  daughter  of  the  official 
surgeon,  Alberti.  I  tried  to  get  acquainted  with  this 
girl,  and  finally  won  her  hand.  After  our  marriage  we 
lived  in  the  house  of  my  father-in-law,  and  I  helped  the 
latter  in  the  discharge  of  his  professional  duties.  But 
since  there  was  not  enough  for  both  of  us  to  do,  I 
decided  to  take  up  the  culture  of  silk,  which  was  officially 
encouraged  in  those  times,  and  with  which  I  had 
acquainted  myself  during  my  travels.  Since  there 
were  already  a  few  mulberry  trees  in  this  place,  my 
attempts  were  crowned  with  success,  as  I  produced  the 
first  year  three  pounds  of  silk.  Taking  the  result  of  my 
labor  with  me  to  Dresden,  I  applied  to  the  electoral 
commissioner  of  industry  for  a  subsidy  on  which  to 
continue  my  business.  After  I  had  shown  the  silk 
which  I  had  produced  myself,  I  not  only  received  a 

68 


reward  of  twenty  dollars,  but  also  four  hundred  young 
mulberry  trees,  with  the  directions  for  planting  them. 
I  planted  these  trees  partly  near  the  city,  partly  in  the 
cemetery  and  the  rest  on  the  streets.  But  the  mulberry 
trees  that  had  been  so  well  started  were  destroyed 
either  by  stupid  persons  or  by  those  that  wanted  to 
take  revenge  on  me.  When  I  finally  saw  that  I  reaped 
no  reward  from  my  efforts,  I  grew  discouraged  and  gave 
up  the  project  of  silk-culture. 

During  my  errand  in  Dresden,  in  connection  with  the 
silk-culture,  I  took  the  necessary  steps  at  the  sanitary 
department  for  admission  to  the  examination  of  surgeons. 
I  passed  my  examination  and  was  appointed  assistant 
to  my  ageing  father-in-law. 


69 


Announcement 

Concerning 

Heartman's 

Historical  Series 


MY  HISTORICAL  SERIES  is  not 
a    profit  -  making    enterprise.       It 
has    become    the    hobby    of    my 
spare  time;  the  hobby  of  a  man,  who,  al 
though  not  born  in  America,  takes  a  deep 
interest  in  American  History,  for  the  heroic 
and  remarkable  struggle  this  history  bears. 
To  help  bring  to  light  little  known  mater 
ial  is  my  aim,  and  such  work  carries  all  the 
reward    and    satisfaction,     to    which    the 
creator    of    this    series   may    be    entitled. 
Should  they  sell  well,  I  get  money  to  bring 
out  more  ;  should  they  sell  slow,  I  shall 
have  to  wait,  till  I  can    again 
spare  a  few  dollars. 


CHAS.   FRED.   HEARTMAN 

36  Lexington  Avenue 
NEW  YORK 


Heartman  's  Historical  Series  No.  1 

Narrative  of  Johann  Carl  Baettner  in 
the  American  Revolution 

This  Narrative  is  a  translation  from  the  German.  The  Original  is  a  rare 
book.  It  is  an  interesting  medley  of  serious  incidents  and  accidental  exploits 
and  strews  sidelights  on  the  American  Revolution  not  to  be  undervalued. 

With  Portrait  of  J.    C.  Buettner  as  American  Soldier  in  Colors 
320  copies  printed,  bound  in  boards.     Price,  Two  Dollars  and  Fifty  Cents 

Six  copies  on  Japan  paper,  bound  in  three-quarter  blue  morocco  by 
Trow.  (Four  left)  Price,  Ten  Dollars 

Heartman 's  Historical  Series  No.  2 

Letters  Written  by  Ebenezer  Huntington 
Daring  the  American  Revolution 

With  Introduction  and  Index  of  Names 
by  Garret  W.  F.  Blanchfield 

With  Portrait  and  Facsimile 

This  Collection  of  71  recently  discovered  letters  is  an  important  contribu 
tion  to  the  History  of  the  War  of  Independence.  Huntington  fought  under 
Heath  on  the  North  River;  later  he  was  Major  in  Webb's  regiment  which 
formed  a  part  of  Gen.  Putnam's  Force  on  the  Hudson.  He  was  with  the  expe 
dition  to  Long  Island  which  met  with  failure.  In  1778  he  was  with  the  troops 
in  Rhode  Island,  in  1779  in  Jersey,  in  1780  he  took  part  in  the  action  at  Spring 
field,  etc.  His  letters  are  full  of  interesting  details  and  written  with  the 
heart  of  a  man,  showing  the  trials  undergone  and  the  privations  and  sufferings 
endured,  by  the  ancestors  in  their  noble  contest  for  freedom. 

320  copies  printed,  bound  in  boards.     Price,  Three  Dollars 

Six  copies  printed  on  Japan  paper,  bound  in  three-quarter  blue  morocco 
by  Trow,  extra  inserted  5  autograph  letters  of  Ebenezer  Huntington  in  each 
copy  (interesting  but  of  later  date  than  the  published  ones).  (Two  copies  left) 

Price,  Thirty  Dollars 

Heartman's  Historical  Series  No.  3 

The  Voyage  of  the  First  Hessian  Army 
from  Portsmouth  to  New  York,  1776 

This  historical  Sketch  is  a  translation  from  the  German  of  A.  Pfister.  It  is 
interesting  enough  to  be  reprinted  in  English  as  it  contains  hitherto  very  little 
known  details  of  this  voyage.  At  the  end  is  published  an  Extract  from  the 
Diary  of  the  German  Poet  and  Adventurer,  J.  G.  Seume,  a  Hessian  Soldier  and 
Participator  in  the  Voyage. 

110  copies  printed,  bound  in  boards.     Price,  One  Dollar  and  Fifty  Cents 

Six  copies  printed  on  Japan  paper,  bound  in  three-quarter  blue  morocco 
by  Trow.  (Four  copies  left)  Price,  Seven  Dollars 


Heartman  's  Historical  Series  No.  4 

Facsimile  of  "An  Almanack  for  1753  By  John  Nathan  Hutchins." 
Printed  and  sold  by  Hugh  Gaine,  New  York,  1752,  being  the  first  book 
printed  by  Hugh  Gaine.  This  reprint  was  made  some  years  ago  from  the 
only  Copy  being  extant,  that  time  in  my  possession.  The  reprint  was 
made  in  an  edition  of  81  copies,  the  remaining  24  have  been  incorporated 
in  this  series  with  imprint  accordingly. 

24   copies    on   Fabriano   Hand-Made    Paper.      Bound   in   boards.      Price, 

Two    Dollars 

One  copy  on  Japan  Paper  bound  in  half  blue  morocco  by  Trow.     Price, 

Twelve  Dollars 


Heartman' s  Historical  Series  No.  5 

A  Compendious    Account 

of  the  Most   Important  Battles  of  the  late  War,   to  which  is  added 

The  Curious  Adventures  of  Corporal  Samuel  Stubbs 

(A  Kentuckian  of  65  Years  of  Age),  Who  in  the  late  War  patriot 
ically  volunteered  his  services  and  nobly  distinguished  himself  in  the 
battles  of  Queenstown,  French  Town,  Little  York,  Chippewa,  New 
Orleans,  etc. 

An  interesting  item  on  the  War  of  1812 

Reprinted  from  the  exceedingly  rare  edition,  Boston,  1817 

92  copies  printed.     Bound  in  boards.     Price,  One  Dollar  and  Fifty  Cents 
Seven  copies  printed  on  Japan  Paper.     Price,  Seven  Dollars 

Heartman 's  Historical  Series  No.  6 


Narrative  of  Richard  Lee  Mason  in 
the  Pioneer  West,  1819 

Tn  the  late  Fall  and  early  Winter  of  the  year  1819  Dr.  Richard  Lee 
Mason  made  a  journey  from  Philadelphia  to  Illinois,  through  Pennsyl 
vania,  Ohio,  Kentucky  and  Indiana.  Some  of  his  adventures  were 
remarkable,  and  these,  together  with  his  Observations  on  the  Country, 
the  towns  and  the  people  whom  he  encountered  were  recorded  in  a 
diary  kept  by  him.  This  diary  was  printed  some  twenty  years  ago  in  a 
newspaper  from  which  this  reprint  is  made. 

With  Portrait 

150  copies  printed  on  Fabriano  Hand-Made  Paper  bound  in  boards  in  a 
board  case.     Price,  Three  Dollars 

Ten  copies  printed  on  Japan  Paper  bound  in  half  blue  morocco  by  Trow. 
(Eight  copies  left.)      Price,  Ten  Dollars 


Heartman  's  Historical  Series  No.  7 

PHILLIS  WHEATLEY 

(PHILLIS    PETERS) 

A  Critical  Attempt  and  a  Bibliography  of  Her  Writings 

By  CHAS.  FRED.  HEARTMAN 

With  Portrait  and  Facsimiles 

In  this  book  many  titles  and  broadsides  very  little  known  are  re 
discovered.  Complete  titles  and  collation  are  given  and  everything  is 
done  to  make  the  Bibliography  as  perfect  as  possible.  The  book  is  very 
elaborately  made  up  and  I  would  feel  deep  regret  if  any  error  should 
appear,  even  in  insignificant  detail. 
91  copies  printed  on  Alexandra  Japan  Paper.  Bound  in  boards  in  a  board 

case.     Price,  Six  Dollars 

Eight  copies  printed  on  Japan  vellum,  the  Portrait  in  three  States  bound 
in  full  morocco  by  Trow.    Price,  Twenty  Dollars.     (Four  copies  left.) 

Heartman9 s  Historical  Series  No.  8 

PHILLIS  WHEATLEY 

(PHILLIS   PETERS) 
Poems  and  Letters 

First  Collected  Edition 
Edited  by  CHAS.  FRED.  HEARTMAN 

With  an  Appreciation  bv 

ARTHUR  A.  SCHOMBURG 

With  Portrait 

Although  there  are  many  reprints  made  of  her  Poems  published  in 
London,  1773,  there  is  no  edition  which  contains  her  other  poems, 
printed  in  magazines  or  issued  in  broadside  form  and  which  are  almost 
unknown.  This  edition  contains  everything  the  editor  could  locate. 

350  copies  printed  on  Ben  Day   Paper.     Bound  in  boards.     Price,  Two 

Dollars  and  Fifty  Cents 
40  copies  printed  on  Fabriano  Hand-Made  Paper.     Bound  in  boards  in  a 

board  case.     Price,  Five  Dollars 

Ten  copies  printed   on  Japan   Paper.     Bound  in   half  blue   Morocco   by 
Trow.     Price,  Twelve  Dollars.     (Six  copies  left.) 

Several  Other  Publications  in  Preparation,  of  which  may  be  mentioned: 

The  Works  of  Bartholomew  de  Las  Casas 

First  collected  English  Edition 
Three  Volumes.     Price,  About  Fifteen  Dollars 


SIX    BROADSIDES  relating  to 

PHILLIS  WHEATLEY 

Reproduced   in    Facsimile  in   the   size   of  the   Original   with   Portrait. 
Of   five    of   the    reproduced   broadsides   only   one    copy   could    be   located 
and  only  two  copies  of  the  sixth  seem  to  be  known. 
Folio   bound  in   Genuine    Old-Fashion    French    Marbled   Boards.     Price, 

Eight  Dollars 
Twenty-five    copies    made    of   which    ten    are    for    Presentation    Purpose 


U.  C.  BERKELI 


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